The moment Shubman Gill came as a vice-captain, Sanju Samson was always going to find it difficult to get into the XI: Ravi Ashwin

R. Ashwin stated that Shubman Gill's vice-captaincy guaranteed his spot, making it "always difficult" for Sanju Samson to find a place in the T20I XI. Ashwin noted that Gill's opener role pushed Samson out of his preferred spot and led to Jitesh Sharma being preferred as a specialist finisher.

11 Dec 2025 16:44 IST

New Update

Sanju Samson, who lost his starting slot to vice-captain Shubman Gill, is at the centre of India's T20I wicket-keeping dilemma, according to former all-rounder R Ashwin.

Samson lost the top-order spot to Gill at the Asia Cup in September, after having an incredible 2024 calendar year that saw him smash three hundreds, including two in South Africa as keeper-opener. Since then, the Kerala batsman has been switching places in the lower order. Samson was dropped from the starting lineup for wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma after one innings at number three during the October tour of Australia.

As for the current series vs South Africa, Samson was left out of India's starting lineup for the opening T20I against South Africa. It was a sign that the squad might not be considering him as a first-choice option for a gifted wicketkeeper-batter.

Samson, who scored the majority of his runs as a T20I opener, knew things would be difficult from the moment Shubman Gill entered the T20I XI. It is not good for Samson that Jitesh Sharma is now favoured above him as a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper.

"There was a lot of talk before the game that Sanju should play, and why is he not being played, and all that. Whenever Sanju is dropped from the team, there is always a discussion, the question of whether he got a fair run, and all that. The moment Shubman Gill came into the side, and as a vice-captain, Sanju was always going to find it difficult to get into the XI," R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“Sanju has not played enough at No.5, and Jitesh Sharma is there in the squad for his finishing abilities. That was the role he played for RCB, so it was always going to be difficult for Sanju. If you are playing Sanju, play him at No.3, use him against spin,” he added.

With an undefeated 22 off 13 balls against Australia in Hobart and a rapid 10 from five deliveries in Cuttack, Jitesh Sharma was instrumental in India's triumphs. The wicketkeeper was also in outstanding form when leading India in the Asia Cup Rising Stars and in the group stages of the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).

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