India captain Suryakumar Yadav has thrown his full support behind Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I setup, insisting that the young opener “deserved” the opportunity to reclaim his spot at the top of the order. Addressing the media on the eve of the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack, Suryakumar clarified that Sanju Samson remains an integral part of India’s white-ball plans, even though he lost his place in the XI during the Australia tour.

Samson had enjoyed a breakout run since returning to T20Is in 2023. After being promoted to open consistently from October 2024, the Kerala batter delivered three centuries in just five innings across two months—seemingly sealing his place as Abhishek Sharma’s long-term partner at the top. His fearless strokeplay and improved temperament made him one of India’s most impactful T20 performers during that phase.

However, Samson’s progress encountered a halt when Shubman Gill was named in India’s Asia Cup squad earlier in 2025. Gill had been a regular in the T20I side until July 2024 before shifting his focus to ODIs and Tests, especially after becoming a core part of India’s Test leadership group. His enforced break from the format left an opening at the top, which Samson grabbed, but Gill’s return was always on the horizon.

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Once Gill re-entered the T20I setup, Samson was pushed to the middle order—a role he has historically been less comfortable with. Despite his adaptability, Samson managed only a single fifty in five innings before being dropped for the final phase of the Australia series. This opened the door for wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, whose strong finishing displays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 earned him opportunities in the lower middle order.

Suryakumar Yadav defended the decision to reinstate Gill as opener, saying, “Sanju did really well when he opened the innings, but Shubman has played before him in the Sri Lanka series, so he deserved that spot. Other than the openers, I feel everyone else must be flexible.”

Gill’s return was further reinforced by his appointment as India’s Test captain—a move that signals the management’s intention to mould him into an all-format leader. Before his temporary absence, Gill had already struck a T20I hundred in February 2023 and was one of the most consistent young batters in the squad.

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When asked if Sanju Samson still figures in India’s plans, Suryakumar Yadav was emphatic. “We gave Sanju Samson opportunities and he was ready to bat anywhere from 3 to 6. It’s good to have such players. Both he and Jitesh are part of the scheme of things. One can open, one can finish—it’s a good headache to have.”

Form-wise, Samson enters the South Africa series on a stronger note, with two fifties and two 40-plus scores for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Jitesh, however, has had a patchy tournament for Baroda, crossing 30 only twice in six matches.

Suryakumar Yadav reiterated India’s focus on continuity as they prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. “We don’t want to change much heading into the next few series. The type of cricket we want to play remains the priority.”

He also confirmed that Shubman Gill has fully recovered from the neck injury that sidelined him during the South Africa ODIs and the first Test, while Hardik Pandya is set for his long-awaited return. India trained at Barabati Stadium on the eve of the match, gearing up for a demanding run of 10 T20Is—including the five-match series against South Africa—before next year’s World Cup.