Former Indian opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has picked India’s playing XI for the opening Asia Cup clash against the UAE. Srikkanth ignored Sanju Samson in the team and backed Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma to open the innings.

Gill is India’s vice-captain in T20Is and since his leadership promotion, there have been doubts about Samson’s place in the team. While Gill recently scored 754 runs in five Test matches against England, Samson scored 368 runs in five innings at an average of 73.60 and a strike rate of 186.80 while leading Kochi Blue Tigers in the Kerala Cricket League.

Srikkanth backed Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to be India’s number three and four, respectively. The 1983 World Cup-winning player backed Shivam Dube to bat at number five. He picked Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel as two genuine all-rounders in the team.

Jitesh Sharma takes the wicket-keeping gloves for Srikkanth. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are Srikkanth’s preferred two fast bowlers whereas Varun Chakravarthy is the solitary spinner in his team.

The former aggressive batter said Kuldeep Yadav might have to sit out of the final XI, which is sad.

“Unfortunately, it is sad but it might happen. You have no choice. Then Shivam Dube and Abhishek will have to bowl an over or two if the sixth bowler option is required. If it is on me I will play seven batters and play Kuldeep. Do you need a century from a batter at number eight? Kuldeep is capable of scoring some runs and he has done it in the past,” he said on his YouTube Channel.

Srikkanth’s playing XI for the UAE clash: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai.