Former India player Aakash Chopra feels that India might use Sanju Samson as their new designated finisher in T20Is after the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai on Sunday, September 14. He also said that Samson is unlikely to bat in the top four, following Shubman Gill’s return as vice-captain as well.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo’s YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said: “(Sanju Samson) It’s quite clear that he’s not gonna be batting in the top three or even four. So, he’s now your designated finisher.” “You have to give Gill the time because once you make the decision that okay, he’s gonna be back at the top of the order, dislodging a successful opener in the last 10-12 T20Is, then I think you’ve to show the faith in him for a longer period. Give him at least 5-6 matches and then take a call. So, I think it’s early days, you have to be a little bit more patient with Shubman Gill.”

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Meanwhile, Sanjay Bangar also applauded Kuldeep Yadav following his exploits with the ball against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 match as well. He applauded Yadav for his variations.

He said: “The kind of work that Kuldeep puts on the ball causes a couple of things. That causes drift, it causes the ball to turn at a bigger angle, and the fact that he also has a skill to bowl both ways. Now, if you have to contain this in the shortest format of the game, then that’s always the challenge, and that’s how difficult scoring runs against Kuldeep has been in this format.”