Ravi Shastri wants Sanju Samson to open even if it means Gill must drop down

If a public poll were conducted to select the Indian team for the Asia Cup, Sanju Samson should be the first name on the team sheet. Such is the clamour for his inclusion in the playing XI, and it is not just fans; even celebrity cricketers are making themselves heard.

Ravi Shastri, former head coach of Team India, is the latest to call for Sanju's inclusion in the T20 event. And Shastri isn't just demanding Sanju to be tucked in somewhere in the middle order, he wants the Kerala star to open.

“He (Sanju) is most dangerous in the top three. That’s where he wins you matches. He should be left there," Shastri said at a media interaction.

It is no secret that the return of Shubman Gill and his elevation as vice-captain guarantees him the opener role alongside Abhishek Sharma. But Shastri thinks Sanju is too good to make way even for Gill. "It won’t be that easy (replacing Gill). Samson has a strong record for India at the top in T20s. Even Gill will find it tough to displace him. Gill may come in for someone else, but Samson should be left alone as opener," Shastri said.

Late last year, Sanju showed his brilliance at the top by hitting three centuries across five innings, including two in a row, making him the first Indian to do so in T20Is.

Recently, Shastri's former teammate and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar backed Sanju. "If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can't leave him out in the reserves," Gavaskar said.

Jitesh Sharma is the second wicketkeeper batter in India’s 15-member squad. Should head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav decide to go with Sharma in the middle order, Sanju might be left on the bench. India begin against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates (Sept 10) before playing Pakistan (Sept 14) and Oman (Sept 19).