With Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma looking certainties to open the innings for India at the upcoming Asia Cup, a pressing question hangs in the air — where does Sanju Samson fit in?
The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter was in blazing T20 form against South Africa, yet his place in the starting XI appears uncertain. With Gill seemingly locked in as an opener, Samson finds himself battling both circumstance and team balance.
Earlier, when India lost a home series to New Zealand and then went down to Australia in their own backyard, critics were quick to question his very existence as the Test team’s coach.
Yes, India might have lifted the Champions Trophy, but that didn’t shield Gambhir from criticism over the team’s inconsistent red-ball record. He bore the brunt of every poor outing in Test cricket. Gambhir knows he still has a point to prove, and with every passing day, he is quietly but steadily doing just that.
‘What has Sanju Done Wrong?’ — the Question No One Can Ignore
If Gill were to slide down to No. 3, it could open the door for Samson to partner Abhishek at the top. But if the team management chooses to persist with Gill as an opener, Samson may again be pushed into the middle order — a role where Jitesh Sharma has been groomed specifically as a finisher.
India’s top order is packed and in form, leaving little space for another batter who thrives in the powerplay overs. For Samson, it’s less about form and more about finding a defined role in a team overflowing with top-order options.
Experts Rally Behind Samson’s Inclusion
Former India chief selector and wicketkeeper MSK Prasad believes Samson deserves a spot on merit.
Sanju is a very good batsman. Just look at the way he batted against South Africa — he was outstanding.I don’t think it would be right to drop him at this stage.
Adding weight to the argument, Surinder Khanna, India’s 1984 Asia Cup hero, also threw his support behind Samson.
“I don’t have any doubt that Samson’s presence will make a lot of difference to the end result,” Khanna said. “His temperament and ability to accelerate under pressure make him invaluable in big tournaments.”
Both Prasad and Khanna’s endorsements underscore the growing support for Samson — a player whose versatility and flair remain unquestioned but whose place in India’s XI still hangs in the balance.
Saba Karim: Samson Doesn’t Fit as a Finisher
I don’t know how Samson will get his chance in the middle order as a finisher if he doesn’t fit into the team as a top-order T20 batter.
Karim’s analysis underlines the selection dilemma: with Gill, Abhishek, and Suryakumar Yadav occupying the top three, and players like Jitesh Sharma earmarked for finishing duties, Samson’s ideal slot simply doesn’t exist right now.
Final Call Lies With Team Management
As the Asia Cup approaches, India’s management faces tough calls — whether to back Samson’s form and flexibility, or to stick rigidly to role-specific players.
For now, the question remains open: will the Kerala batter finally get a consistent run, or will the wait continue for one of India’s most gifted yet underutilised T20 talents?
