Sanju Samson vs Jitesh Sharma for Asia Cup 2025 XI — a battle of form, finishing ability and balance in India’s squad.
India’s wicketkeeper conundrum ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 has triggered a passionate debate: Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma? With Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill expected to lock down the opening slots and Tilak Varma poised for the No 3 position, the environment is hardly favourable for Samson, a player whose best performances come at the top.
On the other hand, Jitesh Sharma is surging ahead as a designated finisher, built for the 4-7 slots, especially after his exploits in IPL 2025. The team management, under Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav, now faces a crucial decision for roles that could impact India’s campaign in the UAE.
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Batting order dynamics
Gill and Abhishek have firmly staked their claim as India’s opening pair, effectively shutting the door on Samson’s preferred role at the top. The management’s decision to back youth will eventually promote Tilak to No 3, strengthening the left-right batting balance at the start of the innings as well.
However, this leaves Samson in a tricky position. With the top order packed, the wicketkeeper’s slot now tilts towards a lower-order role, pushing Samson into an unfamiliar No 6 or 7 position where his impact could be limited.
In such a scenario, the selectors might instead opt for Jitesh Sharma, who is more naturally suited to finishing games from the lower-middle order. This creates a delicate balancing act between experience and role-specialisation in India’s evolving batting blueprint.
Sanju Samson: The top-order specialist
Sanju Samson’s T20 numbers clearly show that he is most dangerous as a top-order batter. In international T20s, he has scored 861 runs in 38 innings at a strike rate of 152.38.
Most of his success has come while opening, where he has 532 runs from 17 innings at an impressive average of 32.63 and a blazing strike rate of 178.77. All three of his T20I hundreds have also come when he batted in the top three, showing how much more effective he is when given the chance to face more balls early.
His IPL career tells a similar story. Samson has 4,704 runs from 172 innings at an average of nearly 31 and a strike rate of 139. He has produced three centuries and 26 fifties in the league, mostly while batting at the top.
But when pushed into the middle order in both T20 internationals and the IPL, his numbers take a hit, with his average dropping closer to 22-25 and his strike rate dipping as well.
Read More: Asia Cup 2025: India squad analysis & Probable XI
Jitesh Sharma: The finisher on the rise
Jitesh Sharma has quickly built a reputation as a finisher in Indian cricket, thanks to his recent IPL performances. In IPL 2025, he scored 261 runs in 11 innings at an impressive average of 37.28 and a strike rate of 176.35. What stood out was that almost all these runs came while batting in the lower-middle order, often in high-pressure moments.
His overall IPL record, 991 runs from 47 innings at a strike rate of 157, shows his ability to consistently clear the ropes, with 77 fours and 62 sixes to his name. Nearly all his big knocks have come from positions 4 to 7.
Although Jitesh is still new to the international T20 scene with just 100 runs in seven innings, he has already shown glimpses of his ability with a strike rate above 147. His strength lies in walking out during the last six overs and immediately attacking the bowling, something India has often lacked in the past. Also, Jitesh is known to play unorthodox cricket, which has been overpowered in recent times, especially in T20 cricket.
Role suitability analysis
Samson has struggled to make the same impact when pushed into the middle order. At positions 4 to 7, both his average and strike rate dip noticeably, and he doesn’t provide the kind of finishing power that someone like Jitesh Sharma brings.
Samson’s real strength lies in setting the pace early in the innings or taking on bowlers when the field is up, not in situations where he has only a handful of deliveries to face. Thus, if India require a wicketkeeper to play up the order, Samson would be the best fit.
Jitesh, on the other hand, is built for the finisher’s role. With his high strike rate and consistent success in the 4-7 slots, he has shown the ability to walk in during the last overs and keep the scoring rate high.
He has already won games for his IPL side with late cameos, and especially his innings in the final of IPL 2025 against Punjab Kings proved how vital he can be in pressure situations. Thus, India would bet on Jitesh if they need a wicketkeeper who can provide the finishing touch for the team.
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