India will begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign today against the UAE, and the brief practice session at Dubai's ICC Cricket Academy provided subtle hints towards the probable XI. After reaching Dubai, the players had a four-day training camp, including an optional practice session. After Shubman Gill was added to the squad as the vice captain, there have been several discussions on the possible shuffle in the opening spot. And India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, hinted that Shubman might replace Samson despite the latter accomplishing 21 ducks! Shubman Gill checked after good start A report from PTI suggested that Shubman Gill was in great touch with the bat. He was hitting the bowlers, juggling between several shots and some over the extra cover. When everything was going great, the moment of concern came from a local net bowler. The bowlers dropped a gunball that went past Gill's defense and toppled the stumps. An otherwise good batting session ended in an unexpected despair. Read also: IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals CEO Jake Lush McCrum Leaves Lonely Sanju Samson under palm tree after brief keeping practice Samson was well aware that he might lose his opening spot as Gill barged in with a leadership responsibility. During the Kerala Cricket League, he came straight down to number six but didn't forget to rain sixes. However, at the nets, he probably got uncertain about a spot in the team. On Monday, Samson was the first one to pick up the keeping gloves. While the other players were warming up, he had a brief practice session with the fielding coach T.Dilip, and got praise from Gambhir after taking a full-stretch catch. Following that, Gambhir had a three-minute chat with Samson before the latter walked away alone. Samson was seen thereafter sitting alone under a palm tree near the dressing room. Later, after everyone retreated Samson padded up and faced a net bowler who dismissed him with a half tracker. Abhishek Sharma bowled, rained sixes Abhishek Sharma has been backed as the opening partner for Shubman Gill in the 2025 Asia Cup. Abhishek was tested with his bowling, the advantage Ajit Agarkar mentioned during team selection. Later, he had a long batting session in the nets. The PTI report said that he smacked around 25 to 30 sixes, leaving everyone astonished. The southpaw avoided brute power, instead using pure hand-eye coordination to launch the ball skyward, with several shots clearing the practice ground entirely. Jitesh Sharma grinds Jitesh Sharma’s assured footwork and calm demeanor in the nets reflected his readiness to shoulder the finisher’s role in the batting order while also taking charge behind the stumps. On Wednesday, the RCB batter kept working hard, even as Sanju Samson, along with senior names like Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and pacer Harshit Rana, opted out of the training session. Under the guidance of fielding coach T. Dilip, Jitesh honed his “no-look” catching drills — an exercise where the wicketkeeper keeps his hands level with the ground while the coach drops the ball from a short height. The task demands snatching the ball just before it bounces, without tracking its flight, depending only on sharp instincts and reflexes.