Abhishek Sharma Likely to Be Dropped from Playing XI! Gambhir's Favorite Washington Sundar May Open with Sanju Samson
- byManasavi
- 20 Jan, 2025

Abhishek Sharma: Ajit Agarkar has announced a 15-member squad for the England T20 series, led by Suryakumar Yadav. Although young opener Abhishek Sharma has been included in the squad, reports suggest he may not feature in the playing XI due to his recent performances in T20 Internationals.
The speculation is that head coach Gautam Gambhir, known for favoring certain players, might support the idea of giving another player the chance to open alongside Sanju Samson in the upcoming Kolkata T20 match.
Abhishek Sharma’s Struggles Could Cost Him His Spot
Abhishek Sharma, who made his international debut during the Zimbabwe tour in 2024, has played 12 T20 matches so far. In these games, he has scored only 256 runs at a modest average of 23.27. His performances include just one century and one half-century in T20 Internationals for India.
Due to this inconsistency, it is believed that skipper Suryakumar Yadav might consider reshuffling the opening combination for the Kolkata T20 match, possibly sidelining Sharma in favor of another player.
Washington Sundar Could Open with Sanju Samson
Reports indicate that Washington Sundar, a player who has been getting regular opportunities under head coach Gautam Gambhir, might be considered for the opening slot. If this happens, fans could witness a new opening partnership with Sundar joining Sanju Samson at the top of the order in Kolkata.
Team India's Probable Playing XI for Kolkata T20
- Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
- Washington Sundar
- Tilak Varma
- Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
- Nitish Reddy
- Hardik Pandya
- Rinku Singh
- Axar Patel
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
Fans are eagerly anticipating whether this change will bring success for Team India in the upcoming match.