Amidst growing speculation, Sanju Samson, a wicketkeeper-batsman with abundant talent, faces the prospect of being left out of the Asia Cup squad due to his lackluster performance during the Caribbean tour. Reports suggest that his recent struggles in the shortest format of the game might lead to his omission from the upcoming tournament.

Samson endured a challenging time during the tour of the Caribbean islands, particularly in the T20 format, where he managed a mere 32 runs across three outings.

Despite boasting a commendable ODI average of 55.71 from 13 matches, the cricketer from Kerala couldn’t replicate his best form during the recent series, amassing only 60 runs in two innings.

Sources within the BCCI indicate that KL Rahul, who is nearing full fitness, is poised to make a return to the squad soon. Additionally, the fitness of Shreyas Iyer, who is still in the process of recovering from a back injury, remains a point of consideration.

With Rahul’s impending return and Ishan Kishan’s impressive performance in the ODI series against the West Indies, Kishan seems likely to surpass Samson for the second wicketkeeper slot.

The BCCI source clarifies that the delayed announcement of the squad for the Asia Cup is due to ongoing assessments of the players who have returned from the West Indies tour, as well as the participation of players like Rahul and Iyer in match simulations and practice matches at the National Cricket Academy.

In a bid to infuse new energy into the ODI setup, selectors and team management express interest in integrating a rejuvenated Prasidh Krishna. They believe that Krishna’s height and ability to generate pace and bounce could add a distinctive dimension to the Indian pace attack.

Krishna’s progress following his injury will be closely monitored as he gears up to feature in the upcoming T20Is against Ireland. This opportunity will serve as an important indicator of his post-injury form.

As India is yet to finalize its squad for the Asia Cup, the team’s preparation is hindered by uncertainties surrounding the fitness status of several players who have been grappling with injuries.