The most heated topic of discussion in the fortnight leading up to India’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign opener in Dubai has been the stunning T20I return of Shubman Gill as vice-captain after a year, challenging the one opening spot kept by wicket-keeper Sanju Samson.
The conundrum intensified when chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar declared that Samson was only a makeshift opener during India’s last three T20I series against England, South Africa and Bangladesh in a period where batters like Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were occupied by Test commitments. With Samson’s spot under the scanner despite smoke three hundreds last season, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the Kerala batter to continue opening with the left-handed Abhishek Sharma and urged the management to offer Gill another spot in the top-order.
‘Even Gill will find it tough’
“He [Samson] is most dangerous in the top three. That’s where he wins you matches. He should be left there. It [replacing Samson for Gill] won’t be that easy. Samson has a strong record for India at the top in T20s. Even Gill will find it tough to displace him. Gill may come in for someone else, but Samson should be left alone as opener,” Shastri said in an interaction with the media on Sunday.
Sanju Samson’s T20I record
| Career | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
| Overall | 38 | 861 | 111 | 25.32 | 152.38 | 3 | 2 | 71 | 49 |
| Opening | 17 | 522 | 111 | 32.62 | 178.76 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 35 |
While he has featured in the opening role in the past, it was not until the Bangladesh series at home last year that Samson was backed in an extended run in the position. Samson struck three centuries in his next seven innings against Bangladesh and South Africa, becoming the first man to record three T20I tons in a calendar year.
Samson’s 178.76 is the second-highest among all India openers, only behind teammate Abhishek Sharma, scoring 522 runs in 17 outings in the position. Meanwhile, Gill has racked up 578 runs in 21 T20I innings for India, striking at under 140 with a 30.42 average.
“Samson should continue playing the way he has for India in T20s. He has been consistent at the top with big runs and hundreds,” Shastri added.
