Sanju Samson trusted over Shubman Gill
When India announced their squad for the Asia Cup in August, the biggest talking point was the return of Shubman Gill, not only as an opener but also as the team’s newly appointed vice-captain.
However, across the 15 matches he played after his comeback, Gill struggled to make a meaningful impact and looked far removed from the batter who had enjoyed a prolific run in recent IPL seasons.
In those 15 games, the 26-year-old scored 291 runs at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137.26, without registering a single half-century.
Eyebrows were raised when Gill was drafted straight back into the T20I XI at the expense of Sanju Samson, who had enjoyed an extended run as an opener since the last T20 World Cup.
In the 13 matches Samson opened for India after the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 454 runs at an average of 34.92 and a strike rate of 181.60, including three centuries. While he was later tried in the middle order, his returns there were more modest, with 146 runs in five innings at an average of 36.50 and a strike rate of 129.20, numbers that did not match his impact at the top.
In the end, India have opted to persist with a combination that has delivered over time, backing Samson’s opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma to provide stability and impetus at the top of the order.
