‘Did Shubman Gill Justify…’: Shashi Tharoor Reignites Sanju Samson Debate | Cricket News

Kerala politician Shashi Tharoor has re-ignited the debate about Sanju Samson’s batting position soon after India clinched the 2025 Asia Cup title by beating Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday. Tharoor asked whether Shubman Gill, included in the team before the Asia Cup began and slotted in as an opener, justified his selection and the team’s decision to push Samson in the middle-order to accommodate him.

Neither Gill nor Samson impressed in the tournament. Regularly opening the innings, Gill managed 127 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 151.19. Samson batted just four times, between numbers three and five, scoring 132 runs at a strike rate of 124.53.

“… It is fair to ask a few questions, without in any way detracting from our victory,” Tharoor said on social media platform X. “Was it right to break up the hugely successful opening partnership of @abhisheksharm06 and @IamSanjuSamson, and relegate a three-time centurion to a middle slot where he was uncomfortable? Did Gill’s performances at the #AsiaCup justify such a change? Would it not be better to restore Sanju to the place where he has shone for India, put Gill at number three, and have Surya take the number five slot instead? #JustAsking @GautamGambhir @BCCI”

Samson was India’s first-choice opener before the tournament. But India brought Gill back and also made him the vice-captain, making him effectively un-droppable from the team.

‘I really enjoyed the pressure’: Sanju Samson

Samson scored 20 runs in the final, helping rebuild the innings after India went three down in the powerplay, but couldn’t make it big.

“Yeah, I really enjoyed the pressure actually,” he said after the match. “I have not played many India-Pakistan games, but today, I think the pressure was all over there. Three wickets down in the powerplay, so I just had to use my experience, calm the nerves down, and just watch the ball and react. That’s what I did, and it came off nicely. I think I had a really good partnership with Tilak, and really enjoyed playing the game today,” he added.