Former India National Cricket Team batsman Mohammad Kaif has settled the fight between Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal for a spot in the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025.
Alongside picking a back-up opener for the Asia Cup 2025, Mohammad Kaif named Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star as the back-up wicketkeeper-batsman.
Even in the IPL, he scored plenty of runs – Mohammad Kaif supports Shubman Gill
India have a set opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who have been highly impressive together at the top of the order in T20Is.
Even though Abhishek and Samson didn’t have very good outings in the recent IPL, they did enough for Team India in T20I cricket to ensure that they are part of the playing XI on the resumption of India’s bilateral T20I assignments.
However, the names of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have emerged for the opening role as they are now free from their Test cricket engagements and can return to T20I cricket.
Many experts have been sharing their views on Gill and Jaiswal’s possible selection for the Asia Cup 2025, and the latest to join the bandwagon is Mohammad Kaif
In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif said that Shubman Gill should be given preference over Yashasvi Jaiswal for the back-up opener spot because of his recent form. He also named Jitesh Sharma as a backup wicketkeeper-batsman to Sanju Samson in the Asia Cup squad.
“Regarding Gill and Jaiswal, only one might make it, and I believe that considering the way Shubman Gill performed as captain on the England tour, scoring 750 runs, he deserves a spot. Even in the IPL, he scored plenty of runs. So, he might not make the playing XI, but his name should definitely be in the squad as a backup opener,” Mohammad Kaif said.
“Next, if I talk about the backup opener, there is a tough fight between Gill and Jaiswal, but only one can be selected. You also need a backup wicketkeeper, and I am seeing Jitesh Sharma’s name. He is in amazing form and even led RCB to the finals this time. So, for the Asia Cup, Sanju Samson will be the main wicketkeeper, while the backup wicketkeeper will be Jitesh Sharma.”
Siraj deserves to be in the squad – Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif further urged the BCCI selection committee to pick Mohammed Siraj for the Asia Cup 2025 after his lion-hearted performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker. He stated:
“I will take the name of one more player, Mohammed Siraj. Although his name was not included in the ODI team for the Champions Trophy, with Harshit Rana taking his place, the selectors will have to decide here whether to go with Harshit Rana or Siraj.”
“However, I believe that given the way Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill performed on the England tour and brought glory to India, Siraj deserves to be in the squad for his bowling performances. So, Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill are two players whom I would like to see rewarded with a spot in the squad,” he added.
Mohammad Kaif’s India squad for Asia Cup 2025:
Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, and Jitesh Sharma.
