Dubai: With the main venue off-limits for practice, India’s preparations for their Asia Cup 2025 opener against UAE on Wednesday have taken an unusual turn. Forced to train at the ICC Academy in sweltering heat, the squad only got their first feel of the Dubai International Stadium on Monday evening — a quick fielding session under the stadium’s iconic “ring of fire” floodlights, followed by an inspection of the pitch, which bowling coach Morne Morkel noted had a “greenish tinge.”
Jitesh Sharma set to don gloves
The biggest takeaway from training was clarity around the wicketkeeper-batter slot. Jitesh Sharma appears to have edged ahead of Sanju Samson, with Morkel and the team management giving him extended sessions. Jitesh’s inclusion is expected to push vice-captain Shubman Gill — who turned 26 on Monday and last featured in a T20I in July 2024 — to open with Abhishek Sharma at the top.
Samson, meanwhile, has been relegated to a peripheral role. Despite auditioning for a middle-order slot during the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), he kept wickets for barely five minutes across three training sessions since September 5, and mostly batted late in nets.
The No. 8 dilemma
Another puzzle lies at No. 8:
- Should India bolster batting with Shivam Dube, who has bowled regularly in nets?
- Or field an extra seamer like Arshdeep Singh or Harshit Rana to partner Jasprit Bumrah, with Hardik Pandya as the third fast bowler?
India’s management has also been fine-tuning sixth-bowler options, with Abhishek Sharma rolling his arm over regularly in nets.
Morkel’s emphasis on allrounders
Morkel remained guarded about the final XI but stressed versatility:
“I’m always pushing for allrounders to work hard on both skills. Sometimes guys can get a little bit naughty and focus on one skill. But in this environment, we want to leave no stone unturned,” he said.
“On the day, conditions might favour Dube more than someone else. The more guys that can give the captain options, the better it is for us.”
Match-day calls
India’s final XI will likely hinge on the pitch report and conditions on Wednesday, with the greenish surface possibly tempting management to go pace-heavy. But with batting depth also under consideration, balance remains the buzzword in camp.
