TL;DR
- Mohammad Kaif said that Shubman Gill’s elevation to vice-captain secured his spot in all T20Is, sidelining Samson despite his strike-rate and recent form.
- Kaif noted that Jitesh Sharma was viewed as a better finisher at number five/six, further reducing Samson’s chances.
- He argued that although Samson had strong numbers, the team’s long-term strategy favoured grooming Gill as future captain.
- The comments reignite discussion about selection transparency, senior-player loyalty and team balance in Indian cricket.
- Analysts mention that selectors face pressure to balance youth leadership with proven experience ahead of major ICC events.





