Sanju Samson Left Out; Asia Cup Winner Predicts India's XI

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 15:45:24 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 20:51:46

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Cricket legend Krishnamachari Srikanth predicts UAE-bound Indian XI, leaves out Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav. Will the team pay for the absence of these two stars?

Former Indian cricket team captain Krishnamachari Srikanth is making headlines again, this time for predicting India's XI for the upcoming Asia Cup match in Dubai. Srikanth is renowned for his impressive record of winning the Asia Cup title for India in 1984, and for being the first Indian batsman to score a century in a One Day International (ODI).

In a recent interview, Srikanth shed light on his insights regarding India's strongest lineup for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) match. Notably, he advised leaving out star performer Sanju Samson and ace bowler Kuldeep Yadav.

Samson, known for showcasing unwavering performance despite his brief tenure in the national team, delivered an astonishing 152 runs in just 127 balls in an innings comprised of eighteen fours and three massive sixes. Moreover, Kuldowne has been instrumental in India's successful campaign at the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021. However, Srikanth believes that India should opt for a more balanced lineup on the slow UAE pitches, citing the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja to provide more depth and variation to the team's bowling options.

The move raised eyebrows, especially since Jadeja has been sidelined due to injury concerns. Yet, if India's think tank embraces Srikanth's prediction, they would be banking on the all-rounder's stellar show in the 2021 IPL, where he demonstrated his prowess in hitting towering sixes and utilising the long handle to great effect.

Ending on a cryptic note, Srikanth hinted at another potential surprise: preferring Hardik Pandya over Ravichandran Ashwin as the team's primary spinner. While Ashwin has had remarkable performances in the past, including a historic century at the Lord's against England, Srikanth points out that Hardik's all-round abilities, including his seam bowling, could provide more versatility and depth to the Indian team.

Will the team management take a chance on Srikanth's predictions and make drastic changes to the lineup? Only time will tell if his envisioned XI will help India overcome UAE in their backyard.

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