 "India playing XI hints: Men in Blue prepare Hardik Pandya-like option, Jitesh likely to replace Samson")
The Indian cricket team training session at ICC Academy nets in Dubai has given a fair hint that all-rounder Shivam Dube and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma are set to play a major role in the Asia Cup 2025 campaign, which starts for the Men in Blue on Wednesday in Dubai.
India face the UAE on Wednesday in the Group A opener, before taking on Pakistan on Sunday. The Men in Blue face Oman in their group game on 19 September, followed by the Super 4s.
Shivam Dube set for big bowling role in Asia Cup
Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel on Monday hinted that seam-bowling all-rounder Dube is set to have a bigger bowling role than before. Similar to that of Hardik Pandya.
While Dube was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team, he rarely bowled in the tournament. However, under Gautam Gambhir’s tenure, Dube has been bowling more regularly.
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As compared to just one over in the entire T20 World Cup, Dube was used for two overs in a T20I against England in February and he took two wickets. It is also a known fact that Gambhir prefers all-rounder and under his tenure, Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav have also been seen bowling.
“For me, it’s always important to use Shivam as a guy who can bowl four overs,” Morkel said in the press conference. “I’m always pushing for all-rounders to work hard on both skills. Sometimes, guys can get a little naughty in practice and focus on one. But here we want to leave no stone unturned. On the day, conditions might favour him more than somebody else, and he needs to be ready to deliver."
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Another aspect that supports the theory of a bigger role for Dube in the playing XI is the 32-year-old spending a lot of time in the nets. As per a report in The Hindu, Dube and Jitesh Sharma were among the first lot of batters to hit the nets during India’s first two days of training sessions in Dubai. They were joined by Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and later by Shubman Gill and captain SKY.
Jitesh to replace Samason in India playing XI?
Jitesh, being one among the first to practice batting in Dubai, hints towards his inclusion in the team as the wicketkeeper-batter. Which means Sanju Samson can sit out, and Shubman Gill may play as India’s opener in the match against the UAE.
The report added that Samson was out of action for a while during the net session before having a batting hit at the end.
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