Asia Cup | Sanju Samson should be left alone at the top of the order: Ravi Shastri

With Shubman Gill returning to India’s T20I squad for the Asia Cup as vice-captain after spending the past year focusing on his Test and 50-over commitments, the logical assumption is that the 25-year-old will partner the left-handed Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order.

Gill, whose stock has soared exponentially post his 754 runs in five Tests against England in his first series as captain, has only opened the batting for Gujarat Titans in the IPL.

It would require India to uproot Sanju Samson from the opening slot, and even consider leaving out the wicketkeeper-batter altogether, given the suitability of Jitesh Sharma — the other gloveman in the squad — lower down the order.

For the record, Samson has done little wrong to deserve omission. Since getting a regular crack after last year’s T20 World Cup, Samson has logged three centuries as an opener and gone about his business at an average of 34.75 and a strike rate of 182.89. The numbers are so irresistible that former India coach Ravi Shastri sees no reason to disturb the 30-year-old from Kerala.

“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 matches. He is best left alone at the top,” Shastri said during a virtual media interaction on Saturday.

“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. He is a match-winner.”

Gill’s presence in the T20 set-up as deputy to Suryakumar Yadav seems to be a sign of the think-tank’s inclination to have the graceful batter eventually lead across all formats.

Asked about Gill’s rising stature, Shastri opined: “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.”

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