Sanju Samson awaits rare return to India’s opener role but Gill remains in contention
India could play Sanju Samson as an opener in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad if Shubman Gill, who is injured, doesn’t recover on time.
India could play Sanju Samson as an opener in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad if Shubman Gill, who is injured, doesn’t recover on time.
India could play Sanju Samson as an opener in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad if Shubman Gill, who is injured, doesn’t recover on time.
Shubman Gill reached Ahmedabad, the venue of the final T20I, on Thursday, even as he is carrying an injury. The opener, who had been doubtful for the 4th T20I in Lucknow on Wednesday, got a rest, nevertheless, as the match was cancelled before the toss due to dense fog.
The 26-year-old is understood to have injured his toe in the nets. It is unclear if Gill will be available for the final match on Friday. India lead the series 2-1 and might want to not take unnecessary risk with the Test skipper, who has anyway struggled in the series with just 32 runs added from three innings.
Sanju Samson was expected to play in place of Gill in Lucknow, and should open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma if the vice-captain does not gain match fitness. Sanju has yet to feature in the T20I series, with the management opting for Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper with a role in the lower middle order.
The Kerala wicketkeeper batter is a natural replacement for Gill in the opener role. Sanju had been India's leading run-getter in T20Is in 2024 before Gill took his position and pushed him out of the side.
Gill had missed the majority of the Test series against South Africa with a neck injury, which also ruled him out of the ODI series. India lost the Tests 2-0 before clinching the ODI series 2-1. India will take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series starting on January 11.