Open with Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan instead of Sanju Samson, feels ex-Indian cricketer

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth suggests Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan should open with Abhishek Sharma in Asia Cup 2025, citing Sanju Samson’s vulnerability against short-pitched bowling. Samson may still feature as a keeper-batter.

By Rui 18 Aug 2025 in Cricket

New Update

Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has stated that if he were the Indian chief selector, he would drop Sanju Samson down the order and bring in Abhishek Sharma and either of Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan to open the innings in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 season.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth asserted that Samson was found wanting against the short ball in the five-match T20I series against England earlier this year. His scores in that series read - 26, 5, 3, 1, and 16.

"Sanju Samson was found wanting against the short ball against England. According to me, it's doubtful that he will open. If I was a selector, Abhishek Sharma would be my No. 1 choice. No. 2, I would go for either Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, the ex-Indian cricketer feels the selection committee should include the Rajasthan Royals’ opening batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the 15-man squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup and T20 World Cup as well.

"I would have Vaibhav Suryavanshi in my 15-member T20 World Cup squad as well. He is playing brilliantly,” he added.

While Sai Sudharsan ended the IPL 2025 campaign as the leading run-scorer, amassing 759 runs from 15 innings at an average of 54.21 with a century and six half-centuries, Suryavanshi accumulated 252 runs from seven innings at an average of 36 with a century and a fifty.

"Sai Sudharsan is the Orange Cap holder. He has been doing very well and Yashasvi Jaiswal as well. So, one of Sudharsan, Suryavanshi or Jaiswal should open with Abhishek. That would be my choice. This is a very competitive world. The choice can be between Samson and Jitesh Sharma as the keeper-batter,” he observed.

"I will also bring in Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are certainties," he concluded.

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