India's only unsettled slot comes down to three names - one of them could hold the key to lifting a ninth Asia Cup crown
The Men in Blue's Asia Cup 2025 squad has been a topic of discussion since its announcement. India looks stacked on paper: Gill and Abhishek Sharma at the top, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle, Hardik Pandya at five, and a bowling attack led by Bumrah and Arshdeep. Yet there is one nagging puzzle. Who wears the gloves, and more crucially, who owns the No.6 role - the finishing post that separates good sides from great ones in T20 cricket?
In a format where matches are often decided in the final 20 balls, No.6 is not just another batting slot; it is a pressure cooker. It demands power, composure, and the ability to transform 150 into 180 or turn a chase from impossible to inevitable. India's choices: Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma.
Sanju Samson is a player who divides opinion. Elegant and explosive at his best, yet frustratingly inconsistent. His numbers at No.6, however, are damning. In the IPL, across six innings in that slot, he has averaged just 20 with a strike rate of 102.56.
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The evidence suggests he thrives as an opener, where he can build an innings, rather than as a finisher coming in with five overs remaining. In the crucible of a continental tournament, India cannot afford experiments.
Few stories in recent Indian cricket have been as inspiring as Rinku Singh’s rise. His ability to finish - remember those five sixes against the Gujarat Titans - has made him a cult hero. At No. 6 in the IPL, he has scored 423 runs at a strike rate of 137.79 across 24 innings, figures that show he can be trusted to finish games.
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And yet, Rinku has one limitation. He does not keep wickets. With India needing a backup gloveman in this squad, that reduces his chances significantly. Unless the management decides to go without a second keeper, Rinku might be the unlucky passenger.
Enter Jitesh Sharma, perhaps the most natural fit for India's missing piece. His IPL record at No.6 is not just good; it's exceptional: 405 runs at a strike rate of 168.75. For Punjab Kings and later RCB, he has been the man trusted to close out games - often walking in with 30 needed from 12 and pulling it off.
Unlike Samson, he thrives under constraint. Unlike Rinku, he keeps wickets. In a squad that needs both finishing firepower and a second gloveman, Jitesh ticks every box.
On paper, Samson has the experience, Rinku the finishing touch that the team needs, and Jitesh the ideal statistical fit. However, cricket is not based on sentiment; it depends on clarity of roles. India’s No.6 must be a finisher who can accelerate instantly and also serve as a wicketkeeper. By that standard, Jitesh Sharma emerges as the logical choice.
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Samson might await an opportunity elsewhere. Rinku, despite his talent, could find the squad's format working against him. But Jitesh, with his ability to conclude matches and his gloves to complete the XI, appears poised to solve India’s final major selection dilemma before the Asia Cup commences.
