Former India head coach Ravi Shastri wants the team management to let Sanju Samson remain an opener and instead accommodate vice-captain Shubman Gill elsewhere for the upcoming Asia Cup as he feels the aggressive right-hander has shown his worth at the top of the order. The continental showpiece event starts on September 9. India play their opening contest against hosts UAE in Dubai on September 10.

Samson, 30, who has scored 861 runs in 41 T20Is striking at 152.38, has notched up three centuries in 12 innings since taking the opener’s position in 2024, but hasn’t impressed in the remaining nine outings with his highest score being 29. And with Test skipper Gill set to play his first T20I in over a year, there are obvious question marks over whether he will get his preferred position at the top of the order alongside Abhishek Sharma.

Sanju Samson