Asia Cup : India’s recent T20 run was nothing short of explosive — seven scores above 180 while batting first in eight innings, six of them past 200, and four beyond 220, including a record 297.
Asia Cup : Every one of those totals came in winning causes, reflecting a fearless and aggressive template. The charge was led by openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, with Tilak Varma, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel carrying it forward.
There was just one blip — 124/6 — but even then, 7 wins in 8 games underscored the success of this attacking strategy. During this period, Abhishek struck a century and multiple fifties, Samson smashed three tons, and Varma added two more centuries. The batting order looked settled, primed for bigger tournaments, until the selectors reinstated Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
This has sparked a conundrum: who opens now? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar hinted Samson would be dropped, noting that his opportunities came only because Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were unavailable. He also highlighted Abhishek’s form and his useful bowling, making him hard to ignore. Since Gill was vice-captain before his injury layoff, he was always expected to walk back in.
Yet Samson’s case is strong — three centuries in his last 10 innings, resilience against top attacks, and the ability to turn games around in a few overs. Consistency may be a question, but T20 cricket thrives on impact players, and Samson fits that bill. Still, with Tilak Varma excelling at No. 3 and Jitesh Sharma offering a more natural middle-order option as a wicketkeeper, Samson seems set to miss out again.
Former coach Ravi Shastri has backed Samson, insisting he must remain at the top where he is most dangerous. “If Samson fires, he wins you matches,” Shastri said, adding that even Gill would face stiff competition for that slot. But practice sessions and team dynamics suggest Samson may once again be sidelined, despite proving he belongs and deserves an extended run.