The countdown to the 2025 Asia Cup is underway with India set to begin their campaign in the UAE under captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The squad has been announced, discussions are heating up and as always, selection debates are in the air.
Interestingly, one of Gambhir's comments from two years ago has resurfaced - a remark that feels particularly relevant as India head into another multi-nation tournament with a mix of fresh and experienced faces.
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India squad for Asia Cup 2025 features three left-handers
India's 15-member squad for the Asia Cup includes Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube - all left-handers who bring variety to the batting line-up.
While Shubman Gill has returned as vice-captain and Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya strengthen the middle order, the left-handed trio has become a talking point among fans and pundits.
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Gautam Gambhir's 2023 criticism of the left-hander debate
Back in 2023, Gambhir strongly opposed the notion that India needed at least three left-handers in their playing XI. The former opener was responding to suggestions made by Ravi Shastri who argued that a mix of left and right-handers was crucial for balance.
Gambhir dismissed the idea outright, calling it unnecessary. He argued that selection should hinge on form and quality, not the hand a batter plays with.
"This debate about who is a left-hander or a right-hander or whether we need three left-handers is a useless debate. We look at quality, we do not look to see how many left-handers are in the squad," Gambhir had said on Star Sports during the Asia Cup squad announcement show.
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Two years on, Gambhir's words are echoing louder as he now oversees the team as head coach.
With India carrying three left-handers to the UAE, the spotlight is back on whether Gambhir's philosophy of form over handedness will shape the playing XI during crunch games - especially in the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on September 14.