Shubman Gill returning to the T20 team for Asia Cup 2025 can prove to be a major threat in the place in Sanju Samson’s playing-XI. Now when Gill is the vice-captain, obviously his place in playing-XI is almost certain, it is a good opportunity for Gill but it will also affect the combination of the Indian team in T20. Gill in red ball then play first number-3 and now on number-4 but in white ball he is an opener. That is, if he comes in the playing-XI, whose possibility is strong, then for him, one of Abhishek Sharma or Samson will have to give his place. For India, the pair of Abhishek and Samson are continuously starting the innings from the last 12 T20s.
Abhishek and Samson’s salute partnership has scored 267 runs at an average of 22.25 during this period, with a 50+ partnership between the two and the pair has made an aggressive start with a run rate of 9.82. Not only this, India’s head victory is tied 10 times in these 12 matches and three of them have been the player of the match of Samson (2) and Abhishek (1). Abhishek has scored three centuries during this period. Now despite such data, it can definitely be surprised to tease or break this salute pair. But the thinking of the Indian team’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar is somewhat different, he said, “Samson was starting the innings when the senior players were not playing.” Agarkar’s statement is indicating that the change in the opening pair is almost certain after Gill’s arrival.
Now the question arises whether Gill will open, then his salute partner will be Samson or Abhishek. If you try to understand the recent decisions and thinking of team management, then the answer is not very difficult. One is that the team management now prefers such players who can give the option of bowling along with batting. Abhishek sits accurate in this category as he is also a useful left -arm spin bowler. Second, his current form and unmatched strike rate make the opposition team shock. Abhishek scored a fiery innings of 135 runs off 54 balls in the last T20 for India and then bowled 2 wickets for 3 runs. In such a situation, it is very possible to start his innings with Gill, as well as being a left-handed batsman, the combination of left-right with Gill also makes his pan.
On the other hand, Sanju Sasaman has definitely scored three centuries for India in the last 10 T20s, but in IPL 2025, he was able to play nine matches for RR due to injury. In IPL 2025, Samson scored 285 runs in nine innings with a half -century. Apart from this, his performance in the last T20 series played against England was very simple, he scored 51 runs in five innings at an average of just 10.20. Samson looked uncomfortable in that series against Jofra Archer and other fast bowlers on the short pitch balls. In such a situation, his opening slot for Gill can go.
Not only the opening slot, it seems difficult for Sasaman to save space in the playing-XI. If Gill and Abhishek play the role of an opener, then it is not possible for Samson to play on number-3, as Tilak Verma playing on number-3 is almost certain. Tilak has played a total of 24 innings in his T20 career, out of which he has come only on number-3, not only that, while playing on number-3, he has scored an excellent average of 55.37 and 443 runs at a strike rate of 169.37, including two centuries and two half-centuries. In such a situation, there is now the option of playing only as a middle order or finisher for Samson, but statistics say that the place of number 4 to 7 has not been favorable for Samson. Samson has scored 306 runs in 22 matches in the middle order (4-7) at an average of 20.40 and a strike rate of 123.88, which includes only one Pachasa.
This challenge becomes even more difficult for Samson when another wicketkeeper is also present as Jitesh Sharma in the party. Unlike Samson, the specialty of Jitesh is to come down and score aggressive runs for the team as a finisher. Jitesh played the last T20 for India against Afghanistan in January 2024. So far, he has played nine T20s for India and has only 100 runs in them but they have scored these runs at a strike rate of 147.05. At the same time, in IPL 2025, he contributed significantly in making Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) champions. Jitesh scored an average of 37.28 in 15 matches and 261 runs at a strike rate of 176.35. Jitesh can come down and give him a place in playing-XI above Samson.
Also read: Sanju Samson’s selection in Asia Cup but will not be able to become part of Playing XI due to this
Gill’s return to Samson, but one of the thinking of team management is that Gill should be prepared as an all format captain. The Indian team think tank never believes in different captains for all formats, so if Gill becomes the captain of all formats in the coming time, it will not be surprising and it can explain the first step in the same episode. (agency)
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