With the Asia Cup 2025 set to begin in the UAE on September 9, fans and experts have started weighing in on India’s possible playing XI. India’s official squad announcement brought a few surprises, with Shubman Gill named vice-captain and Suryakumar Yadav continuing as skipper. Now, former Test captain Ajinkya rahane has shared his predicted India XI, offering insights into who he believes should feature in the starting line-up.

Ajinkya Rahane picks his India’s playing XI for Asia Cup 2025

Solid openers

For the opening slot, Rahane went with the right-left combination of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. He admitted that leaving out Sanja Samson was a tough call but felt the team balance required Gill and Abhishek at the top.

“Shubman he’s back in the team, I’m sure he is most likely to open with Abhishek Sharma. Personally, I would like to see Sanju Samson in the team because he has done really well. Very confident guy, very good team man. I feel that is a very important thing,” said Rahane on his YouTube channel.

Rahane praised Samson’s temperament and team-first attitude but added that sometimes management has to make difficult choices. This decision underlines Rahane’s preference for building partnerships at the top, with Gill’s class complementing Abhishek’s aggressive stroke play.

“Sanju is a great team man, but that’s a very good problem to have for the team management. In my opinion, probably Sanju Samson will sit out, though as I said, I would like him to play and be in the playing XI. But Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings for the team,” Added rahane.

Middle-order balance

In the middle order, Rahane backed Tilak sure alongside skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Tilak’s calmness and ability to play spin makes him a key pick, while SKY’s attacking brand of cricket is expected to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed.

Rahane slotted Hardik Pandya into the crucial No. 5 position as the all-rounder who can change the game with both bat and ball. At No. 6, he went with wicketkeeper Jitesh sharmawho has impressed with his finishing ability in domestic and IPL cricket. Rahane emphasized the importance of having a fearless batter in the death overs, and Jitesh provides exactly that.

Axar Patel followed at No. 7, giving India another reliable spin-bowling all-rounder who strengthens both batting depth and control in the middle overs.

Bowling brilliance

Rahane showed particular excitement while discussing India’s bowling attack. He highlighted Jasprit bumrah‘s unmatched skills and Arshdeep Singh’s rapid rise as a dependable new-ball bowler. Alongside the pacers, Kuldeep Yadav was his automatic choice as the lead spinner, bringing variety with his wrist-spin and ability to pick wickets in the middle overs. For the final spot, Rahane kept it flexible, depending on conditions in Dubai.

“I’m really excited to see Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowling together in this Asia Cup. We don’t want to talk too much about Jasprit Bumrah. We all know how dangerous he is. Arshdeep Singh, very confident guy, swings the ball both ways. He can bowl straight and wide yorkers as well,” explained Rahane.

Sanju Samson left out – a surprising call

Samson’s omission from Rahane’s XI is notable because the Kerala batter has been in fine touch across formats. Known for his ability to stabilize innings and shift gears quickly, he also brings leadership experience from the IPL. Many expected him to be a front-runner for the wicketkeeper’s role in the XI, but Rahane preferred Jitesh for his explosive finishing ability in T20 cricket.

Ajinkya Rahane’s India XI for Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy/Harshit Rana