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
Ravi Shastri
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
“He [Samson] is most dangerous in the top three. That’s where he wins you matches. He should be left there. It [replacing Samson for Gill] won’t be that easy. Samson has a strong record for India at the top in T20s. Even Gill will find it tough to displace him. Gill may come in for someone else, but Samson should be left alone as opener,” Shastri, 63, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, said during a media interaction recently. “Samson should continue playing the way he has for India in T20s. He has been consistent at the top with big runs and hundreds,” Shastri added.
In the bowling department, Shastri believes spin will play a key role at the tournament. “Given the conditions in Dubai and the heat, spin will definitely be the flavour of the month. Teams like Afghanistan might even play four spinners. Whether it’s two or three, it depends on balance, but spinners will certainly be in big demand in Dubai. You need both finger spin and wrist spin. India has that luxury, and they’ll all come into play depending on conditions,” the former spin-bowling all-rounder said.
Shastri emphasised that India must stick to their spin-heavy approach, which played a crucial role in their triumphant Champions Trophy campaign in UAE earlier this year. “If conditions are similar, why change [the approach]? If resources allow, India could do the same again,” Shastri signed off.
Asia Cup is live on Sony Sports Ten 1, 3 & 5 from September 9
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