Shubman Gill vs Sanju Samson: Who Should Open With Abhishek Sharma In T20Is?. India’s T20I team is transitioning, with Abhishek Sharma establishing himself as an explosive opener. His aggressive batting has already shone in the Asia Cup 2025, but the primary question is who should partner him at the top, Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson? Both are match-winners, but they offer different skill sets.
Gill opened in the first game vs. the UAE, but whether Sanju Samson should be given the chance is a bigger question. So, let’s look closely at their T20I records, IPL numbers, and recent form to help when deciding who should partner Abhishek.
| Player | T20Is (M/I) | Runs (HS) | Avg / SR | IPL Matches | Runs (HS) | Avg / SR | IPL 100s / 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 22 / 19 | 598 (126*) | ~31.5 / 141 | 118 | 3,866 (129) | 39.4 / 138.7 | 4 / 26 |
| Sanju Samson | 38 / 38 | 861 (111) | 25.3 / ~132 | 176 | 4,704 (119) | 30.9 / 139.0 | 3 / 26 |
| Player | Runs in Last 10 T20I Innings | Highlights | Recent 2025 Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | ~847 runs across 15 recent innings, several fifties & 100s | Scored 20 off 9 vs UAE (Asia Cup 2025); multiple 50+ scores in 2024–25 | Consistent, averaging above 30 with strike-rate >140 |
| Sanju Samson | 378 runs in 10 innings (includes 111 in 2024) | Lean run in 2025: 51 runs in 5 innings, avg ~10 | Volatile: explosive peaks but poor recent returns |
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Bangladesh Begins Campaign With 7-Wicket Win Over Hong Kong
Style and Roles
Gill’s Strengths:
- Naturally suited for opening.
- Typically plays the anchor role—accelerates once established.
- Proven big-innings player—has multiple IPL hundreds in the last two seasons.
- Works well in a left-right partnership along with Abhishek.
Samson’s Strengths:
- A fearless hitter early in innings, he destroys bowling early in the powerplay.
- Proven IPL campaigner, captain, and wicket keeper.
- Adds balance to the team as a flexible batting option when needed, ideally in the No. 3 or 4 spot.
Verdict
Shubman Gill is, on current evidence, the stronger candidate to partner with Abhishek Sharma. Gill has had a tremendous 2025 season, showing explosive consistency. The left-right pairing of Gill-Abhishek will also agitate bowlers and afford India a stable yet aggressive start.
Let’s be clear, the value of Sanju Samson to the squad is immense. His IPL experience, wicketkeeper role, and ability to provide match-winning innings make him of great value, but he is in a middle-order floating batter role until he gets his T20I performance consistent.
Also Read: Five Lowest All-Out Totals Against India In T20Is
In short, if India’s main goal is to dominate the powerplay while building reliability, Gill is ahead of Samson for partner of Abhishek. If selectors value flexibility and explosiveness, then Samson still has plenty to offer—but for now, the numbers and form favor Gill.
