NEW DELHI: Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has backed Sanju Samson's inclusion in the playing XI for the upcoming Asia Cup, stating that a player of Samson’s calibre cannot be overlooked if he is part of the 15-member squad.

With Shubman Gill returning to the T20I side as vice-captain, Sanju Samson might have to give up his opening slot. However, Gavaskar believes the Kerala batter can comfortably bat at number three, behind Abhishek Sharma and Gill.

"If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can't leave him out in the reserves," Gavaskar told a select group of mediapersons during an interaction ahead of the tournament starting September 9 in the UAE.

"Yes, I think it's a very good headache to have for any selection committee that you have two capable batters and somebody like Sanju Samson who can maybe even bat at three and if needed come down at six as a finisher.

"And Jitesh has also done well in the recently concluded IPL where he's played exceedingly well. So yes, I think it's a pleasant headache for the tour selection committee," he added.

The 76-year-old believes Samson will get at least a couple of opportunities, if not more. India are set to open their campaign against the UAE on September 10.

"But my feeling is that maybe Samson will probably get the nod ahead of Jitesh for at least the first couple of games. And then depending on what his form is for the rest of the tournament. But this is what I think will happen," said the former Indian skipper under whom India won the inaugural Asia Cup ODI tournament in Sharjah in 1984.

Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav have normally played at number three and four in recent years, so how can Samson be accommodated at the top if he isn't playing in the middle order which is not his preferred slot?

"But that is why I think maybe they might even be thinking in terms of having him (Samson) at number three and having Tilak as a finisher at five or six. Because Hardik (Pandya) is in your team as well. So, Hardik will probably be batting at five or six again."