Asia Cup 2025: Former World Cup winner reveals his preferred opening pair for India

Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal shared his thoughts on India’s opening pair for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, set to take place from September 9 to 28 in Dubai. The Men in Blue have three potential candidates to open the innings: vice-captain Shubman Gill, wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, and left-hand batter Abhishek Sharma. The inclusion of Gill in the squad has sparked questions about who will open alongside Abhishek Sharma. Samson is also part of the squad, and it is likely that he will bat in the middle order while Gill and Abhishek take charge at the top. Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal expressed confidence in the combination. He said, "Abhishek Sharma is known for his explosive hitting, while Shubman Gill can anchor the innings and accelerate when needed. Opening is very important in T20Is. In the first six overs, the openers set the tone for the game. After that, you have to ensure steady scoring until the middle overs, and in the last three to four overs, big hitters like Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel can finish the innings strongly." The Asia Cup will be played in Dubai, where hot weather conditions are expected. This can play into the hands of spinners. India boast a strong spinning department with Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel in the main squad, and Washington Sundar in the reserves. Madan Lal highlighted the importance of spinners in these conditions. He said, "It's very hot here. The spinner's role will always be crucial. The key is to get an early breakthrough, and then the spinners can take over. We have the best spinners in the world. If we get a breakthrough in the beginning, the spinners can be very lethal and do a wonderful job. Spinners will play a big role. Afghanistan has four spinners and Pakistan has three. Most countries depend on their spinners." India will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai. Their high-voltage clash against Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, also in Dubai. The final group stage match against Oman will be played on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 4 stage, which runs from September 20 to 26. If India finishes at the top of Group A, all Super 4 matches will be held in Dubai. If they finish second, one match will be in Abu Dhabi and the remaining two in Dubai. The tournament final is set for September 28 in Dubai.