Sanju Samson's potential exclusion from India's playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 has become a major talking point in cricket circles. Recent observations from a net session in Dubai and comments from cricket experts suggest that Samson might be "left out in the cold" as the tournament begins.

During a practice session at the ICC Cricket Academy Arena in Dubai, Sanju Samson was the first player to arrive but didn't get a chance to bat. He started with wicketkeeping drills, earning praise from fielding coach T Dilip. Following this, head coach Gautam Gambhir had an intense, three-minute discussion with Samson, focusing on his batting. Despite this interaction, Samson didn't participate in the batting practice, leading to speculation that he might not be in the first-choice XI.

Several factors contribute to the uncertainty around Samson's place in the team. The return of Shubman Gill, who is also the vice-captain, has put Samson's opening slot in jeopardy. With Gill likely to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, Samson's chances of playing in the top order seem slim. Irfan Pathan, a former Indian all-rounder, suggested that Samson might have to bat in the middle order or risk being dropped altogether. Pathan proposed playing Samson at number 5, potentially at the expense of Jitesh Sharma.

Aakash Chopra, another cricket analyst, also left Samson out of his preferred XI for the Asia Cup 2025. Chopra emphasized that Gill's role as vice-captain guarantees his place at the top, leaving no room for Samson. He highlighted the competition for places in India's batting order and noted that Samson's inconsistency has been a factor in team selections.

However, Sunil Gavaskar believes that if Samson is in the squad, he should be in the playing XI. Gavaskar suggested utilizing Samson's versatility at number three or in a lower-order role. He pointed out Samson's impressive record at number three in domestic and franchise cricket, where he has scored 4,136 runs in 134 innings with a strike rate of 137. Gavaskar even proposed a batting order where Samson bats at three, followed by Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, with Hardik Pandya as the finisher.

Despite the uncertainty, Samson is potentially on the verge of surpassing Gautam Gambhir in an all-time list during the Asia Cup 2025. He is currently the 13th-highest run-scorer for India in T20Is, with 861 runs, and needs just 72 more runs to overtake Gambhir.

Ultimately, the decision to include Sanju Samson in the playing XI will depend on the team management's strategy and the composition they want to field. While some experts believe Jitesh Sharma might be preferred as the wicketkeeper-batter, others argue that Samson's talent and experience should not be overlooked. As the Asia Cup 2025 progresses, it remains to be seen whether Sanju Samson will get an opportunity to showcase his skills and solidify his place in the Indian team.