Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has made a bold statement on the Shubman Gill vs Sanju Samson debate ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 9 in the UAE. Shubman Gill returned to India’s T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025 as vice-captain after more than one year.
Gill is expected to open the batting alongside left-handed Abhishek Sharma in the upcoming continental tournament. The Indian Test captain has consistently opened for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, and then his stellar performance in the five-match Test series against England, where he scored 754 runs as captain, has boosted his reputation as an opener.
Ravi Shastri backs Sanju Samson despite Shubman Gill’s T20I return
The right-handed batter’s return to the T20I team has put Sanju Samson’s role in India’s playing XI in serious threat. Sanju Samson has been a reliable opener since last year’s T20 World Cup, scoring three centuries with an average of 34.75 and a strike rate of 182.89.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Read Also: Shreyas Iyer issues official statement on being dumped out of Asia Cup 2025
There are speculations that Samson will be dropped in the batting order to bring Shubman Gill back at the top alongside Abhishek Sharma. However, Ravi Shastri believes that Sanju Samson should continue to open the innings for the Men in Blue at the upcoming tournament.
The former Indian head coach has called Samson a dangerous and lethal batter who can win matches for India. Shastri feels even Gill would face a challenge replacing Samson at the top of the batting order, given the Kerala batter’s consistency and impact.
He is lethal and match-winner: Ravi Shastri on Sanju Samson
Ravi Shastri was quoted as saying by The Hindu: “Samson is at his most dangerous at the top. That is where he can win you matches. If he fires in any of the innings, he wins you the matches. He is best left alone at the top.”
He further added, “When you look at Samson’s record for India in T20Is at the top of the order, even someone like Shubman will be challenged. He may come in for someone else, but I think Samson should be left alone. He is dangerous, he is lethal, and he is a match-winner.”
Ravi Shastri feels Shubman Gill has everything to lead India across formats
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team management is preparing Gill for bigger responsibilities in the future. His consistent performances and impressive leadership are seen as qualities that could make him a long-term leader across the formats.
Hailing the Punjab lad’s rise, Shastri believes that if a player remains an important part of the playing XI and performs well in all formats, there is no reason why he shouldn’t lead the team in all formats.
Shastri signed off by saying, “If a player can ensure he is in the XI and become a vital cog in all formats, then by all means. If someone is good enough, there is nothing that stops one man from leading in all formats.”
Notably, the 17th edition of the Asia Cup will see eight teams—India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong—competing for the title. India will start their campaign against the UAE on Wednesday, September 10, in Dubai.
