Sanju Samson’s Spot Could Complicate Shubman Gill’s Return for Asia Cup

Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill’s positions in the T20I squad for the Asia Cup are currently uncertain, particularly due to the remarkable form of Sanju Samson and the stability of India’s top order, which is being managed by head coach Gautam Gambhir with Suryakumar Yadav as captain. Despite Gill’s impressive debut as Test captain and his record-breaking performances in England, it seems that his place in the T20 lineup is not guaranteed.

There are recent reports indicating Sanju Samson may have a big role in this crisis. He has established himself as a valuable opener in T20 cricket with three hundreds in the past ten T20 games he has played. That kind of consistency makes one wonder about dropping him down the order in favor of Gill, whom most people look up to as India’s future all-format superstar.

As per reports quoted by RevSportz, the Indian team has established a stalwart lineup that not only comprises Samson but also the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, Abhishek Sharma, and second-ranked Tilak Varma. The importance of having a smooth and steady batting order is underlined by the coaching team seeking continuity, especially with the T20 World Cup on home soil next year looming large on the horizon. Even Gill himself has seemed to signal the same in a recent England press conference when he said he realizes the importance of stability in the team. With the Asia Cup being a key preparation tournament, the team management would hardly wish to upset the apple cart after months of planning and toil. As good as Gill’s T20I track record is — scoring 578 runs in 21 games with a strike rate of 139.27 and including three fifties and one ton — he has preferred the longer formats over the forthcoming Australia tour and the Champions Trophy. This has kept him away from T20Is since the July 2024 Sri Lanka tour, when Axar Patel took over the vice-captain’s role.

Also worth mentioning here is the fact that Gill had a stellar domestic campaign, scoring a staggering 650 runs in 15 games with a strike rate of 155.88 and six fifties under his belt. While there is no doubt the consistency in different forms has indeed turned the Indian opener into a sought-after entity, the present arrangement and emphasis on stability mean the future of the participation of player in the Asia Cup is not guaranteed yet. The difficulty of walking the tightrope of both talent and team combination is certainly one the national selectors are facing to achieve success in the upcoming tournaments.