New Delhi, Sept. 12 -- With Sanju Samson included in the playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 opener against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for India on Wednesday, former Indian leg spinner Ravichandran Ashwin disclosed India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's 'project Sanju Samson' plan.

Speaking at his YouTube channel - Kutty Stories - Ashwin revealed Samson's chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir who promised the wicketkeeper-batter that 'If you bat 21 times and get out for a duck, I will still pick you in the 22nd innings.'

Ashwin, who termed the management's backing of Samson as "Project Sanju Samson", praised the support being shown to Samson by both Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

"It is clear that team management believes in what Sa...