As India ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Finalizing your team structure for, sanju samson And Shubhman Gill A clear statistical and strategic divide has emerged between the two. While Gill’s overall talent and top-notch performances cannot be denied, Samson’s T20I figures, strike rate and flexibility of the role give him a decisive edge in World Cup preference.
Pollsters and analysts agree that the modern T20 format requires explosive powerplay impact and adaptability – areas where Samson has consistently outperformed Gill in large sample sizes.
Shubman Gill vs Sanju Samson: Overall T20I career comparison
A look at his T20I career statistics makes the difference in approach clear:
Shubhman Gill: 36 matches, 36 innings, 869 runs, average 28.03, strike rate 138.59, one century, three half-centuries, highest score 126 not out
Sanju Samson: 52 matches, 44 innings, 1032 runs, average 25.80, strike rate 148.06, three centuries, two half-centuries, highest score 111
Gill’s crowning moment was 126 not out against New Zealand, which briefly brought him into high-profile T20 discussions. However, he could not maintain the summit. Samson, on the other hand, has maintained a career strike rate above 145 in a significant number of matches, establishing him as a high-impact T20 batsman.
Gill’s long bad form in T20Is
One of the biggest factors hurting Gill has been his long-term decline in form. Despite early expectations, Gill has gone 18 T20I innings without a half-century, and his performances have declined sharply over the course of 2025.
In 15 T20Is in the 2025 calendar year, Gill scored only 291 runs, at an average of 24.25, at a strike rate of around 137. These figures were well short of the powerplay aggression actively sought by selectors for World Cup conditions, where fast starts are considered a must.
Samson’s current form coincides with the run
Interestingly, Samson has scored the same number of runs as Gill in his last 15 T20Is, but he has done so at a higher strike rate of 137.26, while showing far more intent during the powerplay. This aggression – especially against fast bowlers in the first six overs – was a key selection criteria for the World Cup squad.
Although Samson averages slightly lower, pollsters value impact per ball more than time spent at the crease in T20 cricket. On this standard, Samson has consistently been in the lead.
Apart from pure batting statistics, Samson offers two major advantages that Gill does not have. The first is his wicket-keeping ability, which allows India to field an extra batsman or bowler depending on the circumstances. The second is his versatility, in which he can bat anywhere in the top four, adapting to different match situations.
This flexibility significantly enhances team balance, especially in a 15-man T20 World Cup group where every role must be covered without any surplus.
Why did the pollsters prefer Samson over Gill in India’s T20 World Cup 2026?
A T20-specific decision, not an assessment of talent
The batting analysis frames Gill’s absence as a strategic decision and not a reflection of his overall ability. Gill’s more anchor-style T20 approach, coupled with his chronic poor form, has hurt him in a setup that prioritized maximum aggression at the top.
Former players have echoed this view, suggesting that Samson fits more naturally into the modern T20 blueprint, even if Gill remains one of India’s most talented all-format batsmen.
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