Why Shubman Gill, marketer’s dream, will prevail over Sanju Samson in India’s T20 World Cup team as opening batsman

But finally, after the mandatory talk, the selectors will expectedly bring out the good old ‘long rope’ and hand it over to the T20 vice-captain, who also happens to be the Test and ODI skipper. The decision will obviously upset fans of Sanju Samson, an opener with a far better opening record than Gill.

But is it wise to indulge Gill? Is he worthy to be given that long rope? With just a bit more than a month to go for India’s opening game of the World T20, the answer is “Yes”. It is too late in the day to try out Gill’s alternatives at the top of the order. Gill and Abhishek Sharma will be walking out at the start of the Indian innings for most games as cricket frenzy over yet another ICC event hits India.

India’s Shubman Gill, left, and Abhishek Sharma greets each other during the third T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Samson and Jaiswal have a case but they aren’t forcing the selectors’ hand to underline their names. Changing plans, playing XI and batting order at the last minute isn’t a great idea. Remember the omission of Ambati Rayudu in the 2019 World Cup and the confusion and chaos that ensued. India’s present T20 line-up has squeezed itself in a very tight lane and there is no space to switch slots or manoeuvre the batting order.

The selectors can be faulted for removing Samson from the opening slot when he was in the form of his life. Last year, he had three T20I tons as an opener but mysteriously he was still dropped down the order. That milk split long back, crying over it now is a waste of time. Those are bygones.

Sport is ruthless, it doesn’t value past records nor does it have sympathy for those who are wronged. Samson, in 2025, lacks the rhythm and confidence of 2024. The Indian T20 batting line-up is a slippery slope. Samson was unfairly pushed down the order to accommodate Gill and he ended up losing his footing. Samson deserves a sorry but not an opening slot in about a month’s time.

In last month’s Asia Cup, Samson got his moment to unleash a blistering comeback. There he was out on the pitch in the closing stages of the India-Pakistan final. A winning hand in these tense most-watched games can change fortunes and opinions. Had he delivered the knockout punch, as Tilak Varma did, Samson could have got what he wished. It would have given him the confidence to be the batsman he once was, got back his opening position, even forcing the selectors to rethink on Gill the T20 player. Samson’s 24 from 21 balls in the game that mattered, wasn’t inspiring enough.

There can even be an argument that Gill scored just 12 in that final and Samson wasn’t batting at his usual slot. But earlier in the tournament, in the league game against Pakistan, Gill had a 47, was part of a hundred-run opening stand and had even talked back to Pakistan pacers.

Sanju Samson of India during the 5th T20I match between India and South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India on December 19, 2025. (CREIMAS for BCCI)

What will make Gill a favourable candidate to get the ‘long rope’, is his brand and image. Sports needs faces on the billboard and images of athletes who represent the zeitgeist to sell events. Moan the death of meritocracy but thinking modern sports is a level-playing field, is an illusion. Gill’s face is a marketing man’s dream, he is the poise and grace that delights connoisseurs and he also has a batting record that is the envy of any cricketer in his mid-20s. His T20 record too is formidable and his IPL success compels selectors to back him. It could well turn out to be false hope but in a year when he took a young team to England and led from the front, it is too tempting not to believe in him.

By the end of March 8, 2026 – the day of the final – the verdict on Gambhir and Agarkar would have been passed. They could either be hailed as strong men with conviction who valued class over form or fall guys who were slaves of Indian cricket’s star culture. How time flies and perceptions change, in Indian cricket.

Six months back, 2025 was half gone, Gambhir and Agarkar were seen as the torch bearers who showed light during those dark days of transition, the brave men who weren’t swayed by emotions and took the right call of weeding out the non-performing seniors from the Test team. The world wanted Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to stay but they didn’t. Their stand was vindicated, the prince took the throne in England, Gill scored runs, showed steel and led the team to draw the series, a result noone expected.

What goes around, comes around. The format has changed and so has the opinion. The year is yet to end but now Gill is the senior. He is seen as the one who is blocking the way of a deserving senior, read Sanju.

When Gill is retained as vice-captain, Agarkar and Gambhir will be blamed for having double standards. If they could drop Virat and Rohit from Tests because they weren’t scoring runs, why didn’t they drop Gill? Just another day in the life of folks given the responsibility of picking the cricket team of a nation that can’t stop debating the squads and playing XIs.