NEW DELHI: With the anticipated announcement of India's Asia Cup squad approaching on Monday, star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his perspective.
Ashwin suggests that in the scenario where KL Rahul's fitness remains uncertain, the Indian management might contemplate the inclusion of Sanju Samson as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
Expressing his views on his YouTube channel, Ashwin emphasised that Sanju Samson could be given precedence over Jitesh Sharma for this crucial role.
As the selection decisions unfold, it remains to be seen how the management weighs their options and structures the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.
"The only way that can happen is if KL Rahul doesn't get fit, and when they need a keeper, they can open with Ishan Kishan. That's the only possibility because Shreyas Iyer is one of the go-to players for Team India in ODIs as a batter," Ashwin said on his YouTube page.
Sanju Samson failed to impress for India in the recently finished five-match Twenty20 International series against the West Indies National Cricket Team.
Samson scored 12 and 7 in the first two T20Is before being caught for 9-ball 13 in the series finale. The wicketkeeper-batter was listed as No.6 on the squad sheet, but he only batted there once, with his other two innings coming at No.5.
"Jitesh is a right-hander and Rinku is a left-hander. Both Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh are the ones who could fit in the number 5, and 6 roles. However, I feel Sanju Samson will get the nod as the keeper ahead of Jitesh Sharma. The series is an extraordinary chance to play Sanju as a keeper and make him bat at number 3. He will surely bat at number 3 or 4," he added.
"Another debate is on how Sanju Samson is a top-order batter and how he is being wasted as a number 6 in T20Is. See, Team India's top 4 has been really heavy all this while."
(With ANI Inputs)
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