There’s a new battle brewing in Indian cricket—but it’s not on the pitch. It’s happening on the team sheet, and the casualty might just be one of the most explosive batters in the country: Sanju Samson. All because Shubman Gill has been anointed as the next great Indian opener, a player now being placed in the mythical “Kohli-Rohit league.”
But is this decision based on cold, hard stats—or on reputation and hierarchy? Let’s unpack the real story behind why Samson is “trapped on the bench” while Gill gets the keys to the kingdom.
Table of Contents
- The Gill Mandate: Why He’s Untouchable
- Samson’s Plight: The Wrong Role at the Wrong Time
- Stats Don’t Lie: Gill vs Samson T20I Numbers
- The Kohli-Rohit Comparison: Is It Fair?
- What the Future Holds for India’s T20I Top Order
- Conclusion
- Sources
The Gill Mandate: Why He’s Untouchable
Shubman Gill’s return to the Indian T20I setup for the 2025 South Africa series wasn’t just a comeback—it was a coronation. Named vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav, Gill was immediately slotted back into the opening role alongside Abhishek Sharma . India’s captain himself justified the move, stating Gill “deserved to take that spot” .
The message from the team management is clear: Gill is a long-term project. His success in the IPL—890 runs in 2023, an IPL century in 2024—has cemented his reputation as a modern-day run-machine . The selectors see him as the heir apparent to the legacy of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in limited-overs cricket, a narrative that’s hard to argue with on paper.
Samson’s Plight: The Wrong Role at the Wrong Time
While Gill’s star rises, Sanju Samson finds himself in a frustrating purgatory. A naturally explosive opener with a T20I strike rate of 182.2 in that position , Samson is now being asked to bat in the crucial “finisher” role at No. 4 or 5—a spot that demands a different skillset .
Samson’s recent T20I outings in the middle order have been underwhelming, with a strike rate of just 131.57 from the No. 3 spot against Australia . This isn’t a reflection of his talent, but of a severe mismatch in role allocation. As one expert put it, “Samson is being trapped on the bench—not because he’s not good enough, but because the team has already decided on its future” .
Stats Don’t Lie: Shubman Gill Sanju Samson T20I Numbers
Let’s cut through the noise with hard data. Here’s how the two stack up in T20 Internationals where it matters most for openers:
| Metric | Shubman Gill | Sanju Samson |
|---|---|---|
| Innings as Opener | 33 | 17 |
| Runs as Opener | 679 | 512 |
| Average as Opener | 26.30 | 39.4 |
| Strike Rate as Opener | 140.44 | 182.2 |
| Hundreds as Opener | 0 | 3 |
Sources: , ,
The data reveals a fascinating contradiction. Gill’s value is in his consistency and ability to rotate the strike, while Samson is the far more explosive option, capable of dismantling attacks from ball one. Gill’s lower average as an opener —26.30—further complicates the “Kohli-Rohit league” narrative, which is built on sustained excellence.
The Kohli-Rohit Comparison: Is It Fair?
Placing Gill in the same conversation as the all-time greats is a bold claim. While his potential is undeniable, the current numbers don’t yet mirror that of a peak Rohit or Kohli in T20Is. The comparison seems more aspirational than factual.
The real value in this comparison for the team management is strategic. By elevating Gill’s status, they create a long-term vision and a reason to persist with him through lean patches, which is exactly what’s happening now. It’s a classic case of building a team around a future superstar, even if it means shelving a currently in-form and more suitable player like Samson.
What the Future Holds for India’s T20I Top Order
With the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon, the selection debate is more than just tactical—it’s existential. The squad for the South Africa series in 2025 has already shown the committee’s hand: Gill is a fixture . Samson, along with Jitesh Sharma, is in contention only for the wicketkeeper-batter slot, not as an opener .
This rigid hierarchy leaves little room for flexibility. In a format where match-ups and conditions can change from game to game, India’s insistence on a fixed opening pair could be a strategic blind spot. The team’s mantra, as stated by their captain, is that “other than the openers, everyone has to be flexible” —a policy that locks Samson out before he even gets a fair chance.
Conclusion
The “Shubman Gill Sanju Samson” saga is more than a selection dilemma; it’s a window into how Indian cricket prioritizes future potential over present form. While Gill’s development as a future leader is important, sidelining a proven match-winner like Samson in a role that doesn’t suit him is a gamble.
For fans of dynamic, aggressive T20 cricket, the current setup might feel frustrating. The numbers suggest Samson is the more potent opener right now. Whether the team is willing to let data, rather than narrative, drive their decisions remains to be seen. One thing is certain: this bench war is far from over.
Sources
Times of India, “IND vs SA: Shubman Gill’s T20I Opener Role Under”
Cricbuzz, “Shubman Gill vs Sanju Samson as T20I opener”
Times of India, “‘He Deserved To Take That Spot'”
ESPNcricinfo, “‘Sanju Samson did well but Shubman Gill deserves…”
ESPNcricinfo, “Shubman Gill – Profile & Statistical Summary”
CricTracker, “IND vs SA 2025: Why did Shubman Gill replace Sanju…”
India Today, “India squad for South Africa T20 2025”
CricTracker, “India vs South Africa T20I Schedule 2025”
Cricmetric, “Sanju Samson vs Australia T20I Stats”
Howstat, “SANJU SAMSON T20 international RUNS AT EVERY…”
ESPNcricinfo, “Shubman Gill IPL Profile”