Will Sanju Samson lose his T20 opening slot to Shubman Gill?

NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson's opening slot with Abhishek Sharma in T20Is seemed secure until Shubman Gill's inclusion in India's 15-member Asia Cup squad. While consistency has often been an issue for Samson, he strengthened his case as an opener by smashing three centuries at the top of the order. However, he endured a poor run of form against England in January this year - India's only T20I assignment so far in 2025.

With Gill's entry into the T20 fold for the first time since July 2024, the question now is: Will Samson have to compromise his opening slot, or will Gill be asked to bat in the middle order? Given Gill's natural preference for the top, it now appears inevitable that he will be slotted in at No. 1, 2, or 3 - a move that puts both Samson’s place as opener and Tilak Varma's role at No. 3 under pressure.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar offered a hint but refrained from confirming whether the Test skipper, who opens for his IPL franchise Gujarat Titans, would do the same in the Asia Cup.

"Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available," the chairman of the selectors said. "He (Gill) was the vice-captain last time he played T20 cricket. Now that he is available, it is their headache to pick the batting lineup. Our headache was to pick the 15. We've got some real depth." However, Agarkar clarified that Abhishek's place is unthreatened at the top of the order. "Abhishek's performances make it hard to leave him out."

However, Samson showed adaptability and team-first approach in Kerala Cricket League on Thursday. Initially expected to open, he opted to bat at number five instead. Although he did not get an opportunity to bat against Adani Trivandrum Royals, his decision highlighted willingness to adjust to new roles.

Having piled up 650 runs as an opener in the IPL, Gill is expected to take one of the opening spots. While T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav refrained from revealing the batting order, he welcomed Gill’s return to the T20 setup.

"When he last played T20Is, post the T20 World Cup, in Sri Lanka, I was leading and he was the vice-captain. That's when we started the new cycle for the (next) T20 World Cup (in 2026). After that he got busy with the Test series. He did not get the opportunity to play T20Is. We're happy to have him," Suryakumar, who completed one year as T20I captain, said.