Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reckons Yashasvi Jaiswal is ahead of Shubman Gill in the race to be a part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad.
According to reports, both Jaiswal and Gill are in the mix to make it to India's squad for the continental tournament, which will be played in the T20I format in UAE from September 9 to September 28.
The duo has not played a T20I match since July 2024, amid the priority over Test cricket and One-Day Internationals. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have established themselves as the openers for India in the shortest format. This means that one spot as a reserve will be up for grabs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra suggested that Jaiswal is a bit ahead of Gill as his explosive style matches the mantra of the team.
Chopra also argued that picking Gill as a third opener won't be a good idea as he is part of the leadership group in other two formats.
“It is important that you keep an opener with you because, while counting the previous 15-member squad, there was no third opener in the Indian team. We never thought that if Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson would lose their form, then who would open. But then, you have to keep a third opener for the World Cup.”
“As per T20 figures, Yashasvi is little ahead of Shubman. The way he plays T20 and the DNA of the team, he also marries that style. Sometimes it also happens that if you pick Shubman as the third opener, who is your Test captain, the ODI vice-captain, now you have him on the bench in T20Is, that will not look very nice.”
“So the selectors will be thinking that if we are going to select Shubman, then we will have to give him a place in the eleven. Though picking Shubman is tempting, but I feel Yashasvi should be slightly ahead in this race,” Chopra said.
Chopra further stated that Gill’s inclusion in the lineup could mean moving Samson down to the middle-order which won't work well.
“But if that third opener is Shubman, do you want him to sit on the bench? If you don't make him sit and play in the eleven, who will he come in for? If that player's name is Sanju Samson, who will keep wickets?”
“That is the problem because we don't see Sanju Samson playing in the middle order. You would want him at the top of the order. Tilak and Surya will play at number three and four. So, Sanju at fifth? That won't be a good story. If you want someone at fifth, then you will have to think about Jitesh Sharma because he has done very well in the IPL,” Chopra remarked.
Gill has played 21 T20Is and has scored 578 runs, while Jaiswal has amassed 723 in 23 games. India are likely to announce the Asia Cup squad on August 19 or 20.
