Asia Cup 2025: ‘Samson should open, Gill can slot elsewhere’ - Former coach on India’s opening conundrum

Published - 08 Sept 2025, 11:59 IST | Updated - 08 Sept 2025, 12:41 IST

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Sanju Samson to continue opening alongside youngster Abhishek Sharma, while urging the team management to accommodate Shubman Gill in another slot in the top order. The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin on September 9, with India opening their campaign against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 10.

With Gill appointed as India’s vice-captain for the tournament, his inclusion in the playing XI is a certainty. However, despite the wicketkeeper-batter having struck three centuries last season, his place in the top order remains uncertain. The debate over India’s opening combination further deepened after chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar clarified that Samson was used only as a makeshift opener during India’s last three T20I series against England, South Africa, and Bangladesh.

“He [Samson] is most dangerous in the top three. That’s where he wins you matches. He should be left there. It [replacing Samson for Gill] won’t be that easy. Samson has a strong record for India at the top in T20s. Even Gill will find it tough to displace him. Gill may come in for someone else, but Samson should be left alone as opener,” Shastri said to the media as quoted by The Indian Express.

"Samson should be in Playing XI, even if he doesn't open"

Samson has previously featured as an opener, but it was only during the home series against Bangladesh last year that he was given an extended run in the role. He made the most of the opportunity, smashing three centuries and becoming the first player to record three T20I hundreds in a calendar year.

Samson also boasts a strike rate of 178.76, the second-highest among Indian openers, only behind teammate Abhishek. In total, he has scored 522 runs in 17 innings as an opener. In contrast, Gill has accumulated 578 runs in 21 T20I innings for India, but with a strike rate below 140 and an average of 30.42.

“Samson should continue playing the way he has for India in T20s. He has been consistent at the top with big runs and hundreds,” Shastri concluded.