Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Deep Dasgupta has picked India’s playing XI for their opening game of the Asia Cup against the UAE. Dasgupta reckons Shubman Gill is a perfect candidate to fill the big shoes of former skipper Virat Kohli in T20Is and backed the vice-captain to play the anchor role.

Dasgupta picked Gill to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma and thus left out Sanju Samson from the final XI. Samson has been opening with Sharma since the last T20 World Cup but Gill’s appointment as vice-captain, has put his spot at stake.

“I still believe that we need a sheet anchor, a role which Virat Kohli played so well for the last 10-11 years in this format. So, I think, we need such a player in the top three, it is important, and Shubman Gill fits that bill for me. So, he should open with Abhishek,” Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.

The former Bengal cricketer picked Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to bat at number three and four, respectively.

“Sanju Samson has done nothing wrong, it is more about the combination. If Shubman and Abhishek are the openers, No.3 and No.4 are set, as of now it is Tilak and Suryakumar Yadav,” he added.

Dasgupta picked Jitesh Sharma as the first-choice wicket-keeper in the team. The former Indian opener also backed Kuldeep Yadav in the team. Dasgupta reckons India could pick either Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI.

Deep Dasgupta playing XI for the UAE match: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jitesh Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh/Harshit Rana.

India will take on the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday.