'Gambhir wants a skipper who...'- Former India cricketer reveals reason for breaking opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in Asia Cup 2025

Multiple prolific batters for the same position made the situation complex for Indian team management to select a first XI. To make room for Shubman Gill in the opening spot, the management decided to bring down Sanju Samson on the batting order. Instead of using the pair Samson and Abhishek Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Company is preferring the Gill and Sharma combination as the opening combination for the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. But why did Men in Blue have to break the partnership of Sharma and Samson?

Former cricketer Manoj Tiwari made some shocking remarks on the issue. According to him, it was the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who initiated the process to break the partnership, which delivered well enough for India in the past. Tiwari claimed that Gambhir preferred Gill because Gill would listen to Gambhir properly. 

"Shubman Gill is a good batter and has done well for India and in the IPL. He was magnificent in the IPL as a batter and captain. He likes to take the responsibility," the former India cricketer said.

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Why Indian team management broke the proven opening pair?

"We saw Abhishek Sharma and Samson in Zimbabwe. They gave starts against Bangladesh. The team had never shown that kind of attacking mindset before in T20 cricket. So, when the two players have given you starts, scored hundreds, and won matches, why do you want to bring Shubman Gill? The reason is that Gambhir wants a captain who listens to him." 

Interestingly, Samoson, in the Asia Cup 2025, has yet to get the chance to show his batting talent after playing a couple of my matches, including the high-voltage match against the archrival Pakistan. During the match against Pakistan, the management promoted all-rounder Shivam Dube in order to conclude the match. And he did that precisely with the skipper, Surya Kumar Yadav. On the other hand, Gill has amassed 30 runs in two innings.