Asia Cup: Can Sanju Samson do a KL Rahul to stay indispensable in T20Is?

In Indian cricket, no selection meeting is complete without Sanju Samson's name sparking debate. Once the perennial outsider, the Kerala star has at last been handed a consistent run in T20Is, much to the relief of fans, including MP Shashi Tharoor, who long rued his omissions.

Since the last T20 World Cup in 2024, however, Samson has played 17 matches for India in the format—the second-most by any player. For a while, it appeared the wicketkeeper-batter had forged a successful opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma and had cemented his spot for next year's World Cup. With 487 runs, including three hundreds, at a strike rate of 171, Samson seemed to have cracked the code. But there's a twist in the tale.

Shubman Gill's return to the T20I side as vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav has complicated matters. What looked like a well-oiled top order is now set for change, with Gill most likely reclaiming an opener's slot.

Whether Gill's inclusion is guaranteed remains a subject of debate, but indications are that Samson could be the one to make way. Is this the end of the road for him? Not quite. If Samson is willing to do what KL Rahul once did, he could still find himself firmly in the XI. More on that in a bit.

For now, Abhishek Sharma looks a certain starter. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar more or less confirmed as much while announcing the squad on Tuesday. The left-handed opener has epitomised new-age T20 batting, throwing caution to the wind and giving India rapid starts. Crucially, his high-risk approach has also brought consistency - 535 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 193 since the last T20 World Cup.

Samson, meanwhile, endured a dip in form in IPL 2025, hampered by injury concerns. He also struggled in a five-match T20I series against England earlier this year, undone by the pace of visiting bowlers. One lean run is no justification for benching him altogether, but Gill's return has inevitably reshaped the equation.

SAMSON BACK TO THE BENCH?

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta is convinced Gill will replace Samson. Speaking to India Today, Dasgupta stressed that Samson has the maturity to understand that the call is not personal but a matter of team balance.

"I think he (Gill) will open. I think he will open in place of Sanju Samson. It's important to have a left-right combination in this format. I think Abhishek has done superbly well. He is the No.1-ranked batter in the world now. He has done well. I don't see any obvious reason to move him," Dasgupta said.

Dasgupta, now a decorated commentator, went on to add that he would prefer Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper-finisher if Gill replaces Samson. Jitesh is back in the T20I fold after a stellar IPL 2025 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he excelled as a lower-order striker for the title-winning side.

"Sanju, as well, not that he has done anything wrong, but then, your choice is between Sanju and somebody like Jitesh who could finish games. If you look at 5, 6, 7, that is one area with Hardik batting at No. 5, you need another one who is capable of having a strike rate of over 180 in the first five balls of his innings. Somebody who can come and hit the first ball for a six. Jitesh is the guy.

"For me, if I have to pick an opener-cum-wicketkeeper or a No. 6-7 wicketkeeper, I would rather do a six-seven. I am not saying Sanju can't do that. Sanju can also bat at 5, 6 or 7. You have options in the lower middle-order and you need to be flexible," he added.

SUNIL GAVASKAR BATS FOR SAMSON

Does that mean Samson will be confined to the role of backup opener in the lead-up to next year's World Cup? If Gill focuses more on the shortest format in the coming months, Samson's chances could indeed shrink.

But not everyone agrees. Batting great Sunil Gavaskar told India Today he would not leave Samson out just because Gill is back. Gavaskar believes Samson's quality allows him to adapt to any role in the XI.

"He can still be in the team as somebody batting down the order. He can bat at 5 or 6. He shouldn't be left out; after all, he's the wicketkeeper. Sanju is a very gifted player; he can adapt.

"He is used to batting down the order, we shouldn't be too worried about him, he's a class act," Gavaskar said.

That is exactly the sort of flexibility KL Rahul demonstrated to prolong his international career. From being India's go-to opener, Rahul embraced middle-order responsibilities in the build-up to the 2023 ODI World Cup and excelled as a finisher. More recently, he accepted a middle-order role in Tests, only to grab the opportunity to reclaim an opening slot in Australia, where even Rohit Sharma shifted down the order to accommodate him.

Versatility is never easy. Rahul has shown he has the class for it. Samson, too, is widely acknowledged as one of the most naturally gifted batters of his generation.

SAMSON'S NUMBERS IN MIDDLE-ORDER

But can he truly reinvent himself as a middle-order force in T20Is? The numbers are mixed.

Samson has had a career-reviving run as an opener in T20Is - 512 runs at an average of nearly 40 and a strike rate of 182. Yet, he is no stranger to batting lower down. He has batted at No. 4 or 5 on 16 occasions in T20Is, but with only one fifty and a strike rate in the 130s.

In the IPL, however, Samson has predominantly played in the middle order. He has walked in at No. 3 or 4 in 130 of his 149 innings, amassing 3,096 runs at an average close to 40. His most productive position has been No. 3, with 3,096 runs in 94 innings.

At No. 5 and 6, he has had only a handful of outings (three and six respectively). Adapting to those roles at the international level will be no small task. Samson may have to alter his game completely, coming in and firing from ball one - much like Jitesh Sharma did in IPL 2025.

But given the choice between sitting out and embracing a new role, Samson would surely opt for the latter. And as Gavaskar rightly pointed out, the man has enough quality to make it work if he receives clarity of role.

Samson's career has ebbed and flowed like a T20 match itself. The next challenge, perhaps the biggest yet - adapt, reinvent, and remain indispensable.