Jitesh Sharma in pole position
Jitesh Sharma made a comeback to India’s T20I squad after 20 months and was placed ahead of Sanju Samson in the wicketkeeper race for Asia Cup 2025.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Jitesh Sharma has returned to India’s T20I team for the Asia Cup 2025, set to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28. The 31-year-old Maharashtra cricketer, who last played for India almost 20 months ago, is reportedly ahead of Sanju Samson as the first-choice wicketkeeper for the continental event, which will be played in T20I format this year.
According to RevSportz, Jitesh, who has represented India in nine T20Is so far, was the first to hit the nets on Friday. He was seen doing wicketkeeping drills, while Samson focused on high catches and throwdowns. The report noted that “the clips of Jitesh with the gloves are an indication that he might be team management’s first choice for the stumper’s role.”
The portal also reported that Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma were seen bowling in the nets apart from their batting practice. Both have been used as part-time bowlers before, and with conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi favouring spinners, they could be used by skipper Suryakumar Yadav to deliver a few overs during the tournament.
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India will begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. The Men in Blue will then face Pakistan on September 14 in a high-voltage clash at the same venue. Their final Group A fixture is against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
If India secure a top-two finish in Group A, they will progress to the Super Fours, where they will face one team from their own group and two from Group B. The top two teams from the Super Fours will qualify for the final, scheduled for Sunday, September 28.
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Last Updated on September 6, 2025
