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Sanju Samson refutes rift rumours with Shubman Gill; embraces new T20I role for India

Anurag Dasgupta

Samson breaks silence on rift rumours with Gill [Source: AFP Photo] Samson breaks silence on rift rumours with Gill [Source: AFP Photo]

Sanju Samson was India’s first-choice opener before the Asia Cup 2025. He had racked up a plethora of runs at the top and had also smacked three centuries to cement his place. However, Shubman Gill, who was not in the T20I scheme of things, was made the vice-captain of the side, and he also took Samson’s opening spot.

Samson puts the rift rumours to rest

Sanju Samson was demoted in the batting order and speculations began regarding a potential rift between him and Gill. But just before the T20I series against Australia, Samson put the speculations to rest as he stressed that there is no issue between the duo and his job is to adapt to his new role to cement a permanent spot for the T20 World Cup.

“To be honest, I have played a lot of different roles for a lot of different teams,” he said. “I have been part of this team for a long time now and have done different roles. I have opened the batting. I have finished matches. Now, I am batting in the middle order. Only the openers are fixed in this team. The rest of the batters have to be ready at any time and in any situation. We are well prepared for that,” Samson further added, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Samson still adopting to his new role as finisher

Since the start of the Asia Cup, Samson has played either at number 5, or number 6 in T20Is, and has started to get used to his new role as a potential India finisher.

In the first two matches, the Kerala batter was not required to bat, but the batter scored his first fifty in the middle order as he slammed a quick-fire 56 off 45, while batting at number 3 vs Oman. Then, against Sri Lanka, Samson scored a brisk 23-ball 39 at number 5 and helped India win the match.

In the finals against Pakistan, the right-handed batter was once again sent at number 5, and he stitched a crucial partnership alongside Tilak Varma to help India clinch the title. Batting at 5 is new for the star player, but Samson has stated that he is still adapting to his new role as a middle-order batter.