Sanju Samson Gives India A Good Headache: Where Should Shubman Gill Bat In Asia Cup 2025?

Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill [Source: @Saabir_Saabu01/x.com, AFP Media]

In the ongoing Kerala Cricket League, Sanju Samson has been in brilliant form. In five innings, the wicket-keeper batter has scored 368 runs in 5 innings at an average of 73.60 while scoring at a staggering strike rate of 186.80. 

With Shubman Gill given the vice-captaincy for the tournament, and Gautam Gambhir's tactical preferences shaping team selections, India stands on the horns of a fascinating dilemma: how do they balance individual form with a strategic team framework?

Shubman Gill vs Sanju Samson: Comparison As Openers

The Tactical Reality

The head coach of India, Gautam Gambhir, has a preference for using left-hand and right-hand combinations in the batting lineup. In fact, he was heard saying: "Why would you want to have top five as right-handers?"

An analysis by ESPNcricinfo revealed that during his time with KKR in IPL 2024, the left-right partnerships jumped from 58% in the previous seasons to 74%. This is not just a number; this reveals Gambhir's inclination to have a systematic strategy of using left-right combinations in his lineup.

With Abhishek Sharma as one of the locked-in openers and Shubman Gill being appointed the vice-captain, and keeping in mind the tactical preference of Gambhir, the probable top six of Indian batting will most probably look like -

Most Probable XI Structure:

1. Abhishek Sharma (LH) - locked opener
2. Shubman Gill (RH) - vice-captain
3. Tilak Varma (LH) - perfect tactical fit
4. Suryakumar Yadav (RH) - captain
5. Hardik Pandya (RH)
6. Jitesh Sharma/Sanju Samson 

The Samson Conundrum

Sanju Samson averages nearly 32 and scores at a strike rate of over 175 when it comes to playing as an opener in T20Is. However, the position that seems to be vacant for him in the batting lineup is number 5 or 6. In these positions, he has struggled. He has neither shown consistency nor lethality in the middle order, instead showcasing his affinity for the new ball and ability to capitalise on field restrictions in powerplays.

Sanju Samson's batting position analysis [Source: OneCricket]

Even in his recent attempt at number six in the ongoing KCL, he did not achieve the desired results. Thus, this in turn leads us to the fact that India may struggle to fit Sanju Samson into the batting lineup during the Asia Cup 2025. 

Conclusion

Sanju Samson has been in great form in the ongoing KCL. However, Shubman Gill's vice-captaincy role, combined with Gambhir's preference for a left-right combination in the lineup and Tilak Varma's suitability to the established chemistry, makes Samson's presence a difficult option.

Bottom line: Individual brilliance versus team strategy is cricket's eternal dilemma, where even the best-performing player may not be selected for the XI.

The harsh truth? Form doesn't always guarantee selection when tactics trump statistics.

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