Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has wondered whether the selectors should pick Shubman Gill ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal as the third opener for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup as well. He added that Gill might have to be a part of the playing XI if he is picked in the team, questioning who would keep wickets if the Indian Test captain replaces Sanju Samson as an opener as well. The 2025 Asia Cup is all set to take place in the UAE from September 9 onwards.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “I don’t think anyone needs to go out. It’s important that you keep another opener with you. India didn’t pick a third opener (in the T20I series against England). They weren’t even thinking about who would open if either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson loses form. If you don’t keep the third opener here, you will have to keep him in the World Cup.”

“However, if Shubman Gill is the third opener, do you want to make him sit on the bench? If you don’t do that and play him in the XI, in whose place will you play him? If that player’s name is Sanju Samson, who will keep? That is the problem. You don’t see Sanju Samson batting in the middle order. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma will play at No. 3 and No. 4. Sanju at No. 5? That won’t be a good story,” he further added.

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However, Aakash Chopra also stated that Sanju Samson would be out of the playing XI, with Abhishek Sharma being a virtual certainty as an opener as well, if Shubman Gill is added to India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad.

“If the third opener plays, he cannot play in place of Abhishek Sharma. He will play in place of Sanju Samson, and you won’t see Sanju Samson playing in the middle order. Then you will start feeling that you wasted the investment you did in the last 12 matches. Suddenly, from being the opener, he is out,” he said.

“Getting out five consecutive times against the short ball against England goes against Sanju. What goes agaisnt Shubman? If you want to make a destructive team, can Shubman Gill become a part of that DNA? That is the big question. Yashasvi Jaiswal can definitely become a part of that DNA, but are they thinking about Yashasvi?” Aakash Chopra concluded.