Sanju Samson’s playful answer on Shubman Gill rivalry sparks viral buzz

He’ll want to make the five chances count because India have also included Ishan Kishan in the squad, who’d be staring down his neck for a chance. You shouldn’t ask these questions,” Samson replied, laughing. Then, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan caught Samson off-guard by asking him whether he’d still be opening in the five-T20I series against New Zealand before the World Cup. Sanju Samson has had a crazy last few months. Aise sawaal nahi puchne chahiye, Irfan bhai. It has probably helped that Samson has remained pragmatic throughout. On Friday, in the final T20I between India and South Africa, Gill, who had been out of form throughout, picked up an injury, and Samson was brought in as the replacement. (Please you make me open, what should I say? “Bhaiya, aap karado open, main kya bolu yaar. Pathan probably didn’t know at the time, but Samson is all set to open the innings again against New Zealand when the series begins on January 21. “The team environment is really significant because a big tournament is coming up. “I have a good relationship with both (head coach) Gautam Gambhir and (captain) Suryakumar Yadav, so communication is quite open with them,” he added. He impressed with a quickfire 22-ball 37, and come Saturday, he was back to being the first-choice opener, with both Gill and Jitesh dropped from India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Gill was appointed the vice-captain, too, which made him almost undroppable for the foreseeable future.

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I know what the leadership group were trying to do as I am quite experienced,” Samson stated. He hadn’t done much wrong as the opening batter of the men’s T20I team, but had to accept being replaced by Shubman Gill for the 2025 Asia Cup. On Friday, after his innings, JioStar experts asked the Kerala superstar about the feelings of being replaced by Gill. Samson shifted to the middle-order, asked to bat in multiple different positions, and his returns dried up, leading to him being eventually dropped from the 11 altogether and replaced by Jitesh Sharma. I have been in the system long enough to know what they were trying to do.