Samson does play the dual wicketkeeper-batter role, but should Gill open, Jitesh Sharma provides a middle-order alternative. Sharma helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win its first IPL trophy and his hitting prowess in the late overs didn’t go unnoticed.

Along with Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya, he provides a solid finishing platform for India, putting Samson’s place in some doubt.

“Samson should be left alone as opener – he is most dangerous at the top and can win you matches,” Ravi Shastri, former India captain and coach, told the Asia Cup’s broadcasters. “Gill can come in for someone else.”

No bowling headache for India

Jasprit Bumrah ‘s fitness and availability leaves Samson’s position as India’s only selection headache. Bumrah featured in three of India’s five tests in England and, after being released from the squad ahead of the fifth test, has had sufficient rest ahead of the Asia Cup. The next T20 World Cup is India’s – and Bumrah’s – foremost assignment and team management is balancing the paceman’s workload.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh are expected to share pace duties with Bumrah, while Pandya will back up as the allround pace option. He will share allrounder duties with Axar Patel and Dube. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy should headline India’s spin attack.

The format

The last Asia Cup played in the T20 format was in 2022, when Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the final. This edition is a precursor to the T20 World Cup next February, where India will be playing at home and Pakistan will play its games in Sri Lanka.

The Asia Cup has alternated between ODI and Twenty20 white-ball formats since 2016, when India won the first of the T20 edition in Bangladesh.