Shubman Gill‘s selection as vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE has created uncertainty around Sanju Samson‘s position in India’s T20 team, despite his inclusion in the squad. The announcement by selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar has sparked discussions about the potential playing XI, with speculation about Gill partnering with Abhishek Sharma as opener in India’s first match against Oman.Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the selection concerns, stating: “The captain-coach will take the call on the best balance for the team. Once we get to Dubai, we will have a bit more clarity. With more options available now, Shubman has been in great form for the last few months. So has Sanju, so two good options, along with Abhishek.”
Captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed strong support for Jitesh Sharma’s inclusion. “Post the last T20WC, we spoke a lot on how to go about it. We spoke about let’s not think of milestones ahead, follow your journey. Been a completely different cricketer post that. The way he performed in the IPL and domestic tournaments he played, he’s done really well, has earned his spot again,” said Surya.The final team composition and playing XI decisions will be made once the team reaches Dubai, where they will have better clarity about the conditions and team balance.The order in which Agarkar announced the squad names has fueled speculation, as he mentioned Gill and Jitesh Sharma before listing Samson and Rinku Singh at the end.
Poll
Will Sanju Samson secure his place in the T20 team after the Asia Cup?
“You can’t ignore the talent Samson has. But he is already close to 31. If he couldn’t seal his place, it’s because he could never be consistent, even in the IPL. There are obvious issues with him playing the heavy ball,” former India selector Devang Gandhi told TOI. Gandhi believes the Asia Cup is still a golden opportunity for Samson to seal his spot. “He probably fell behind because he struggled to play the pace of England’s bowling attack at home. But if he can show he is flexible enough, he can finally seal his spot,” Gandhi said.“This selection committee and team management has shown great foresight in appointing Gill as the captain. When we talk about Pant, he too never got T20 games at a stretch. He has always had to switch formats. “Yet, he is technically very strong to bail the team out of tough situations. Samson has a great opportunity here if he shows the willingness to be flexible and cash in lower down the order,” he added.
