"Samson will keep coming into contention" - Ex-Indian cricketer warns Shubman Gill amid his worrying form in IND vs SA 2025 T20I series

Former Indian seamer Irfan Pathan has warned Shubman Gill over his lack of runs after another failure in the second T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur on Thursday, December 11. With Gill getting out cheaply again, Pathan warned that Sanju Samson will keep coming into contention if the star batter keeps failing.

The Punjab-born cricketer was out for 4 in the opening game in Cuttack and was dismissed for a golden duck on Thursday. He fell prey to Lungi Ngidi yet again as the ball took the edge of his bat and flew to Reeza Hendricks at first slip.

Speaking in a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel 'Irfan Pathan,' the 41-year-old said vice-captain Gill must score runs, given that the World Cup is around the corner. He also claimed that Samson is currently out of the XI, not due to form but due to the batting position, saying:

"The main topic is of Shubman Gill. He is the vice-captain and the World Cup is nearing. But runs are not coming and he is struggling for form. He must make runs if he is to cement his spot in the T20I side, else he will be more under pressure. Gill got out for a first-ball duck in the second T20I but it’s not his game to step out and play as he did in the first. Whenever he doesn’t make runs, the pressure will pile on because Sanju Samson is currently benched."

"He is not benched due to form but owing to the position. Samson will keep coming into contention whenever Gill doesn’t score. It’s important to understand both as fans and outsider that what can India do if you are in that situation," he added.

Pathan further said Samson should be mentally prepared to return to the side, as the management could recall him if Gill continues to struggle.

"If Sanju Samson is brought into the side and doesn’t make runs, then India will be in a catch-22 situation. But if India are backing Shubman Gill for the World Cup, it’s critical for him to make runs. If it doesn’t, it will hurt India due to the good start they might not get. Secondly, Gill will find himself under constant pressure because he is part of the leadership group," he said.

"Hence, Samson should also be mentally ready. I will say it again that Gill will score runs if he sticks to his own gameplan. If he keeps thinking that there’s another player waiting, it will be trouble. The team management’s role will be important then," Pathan concluded.

Since returning to the side in the Asia Cup 2025, Gill's highest score in T20Is is 47. By contrast, Samson, who has opened in 17 T20I innings, mustered three hundreds in that position alongside a strike rate of 178.77.

"He is batting with confidence" - Irfan Pathan impressed with India star

In the same video, Pathan lauded Tilak Varma for his innings of 62 in Mullanpur and advised Hardik Pandya not to bat only by moving his hands. Pathan said:

"The way Tilak Varma is batting, he is batting at another level. He is batting with confidence and he must bat within top four. All the batters struggled except Tilak Varma. Hardik Pandya scores well on pitches where there is pace and bounce. His hand-eye co-ordination is very good as we saw in the first game. But where there is a bit of a grip, it’s troubling for him. If those feet don’t move, he will be in trouble and he can’t play only with his hands. Pandya will have to adjust."

He added:

"Where most other batters struggled, Tilak Varma hardly did. He hasn’t looked back since that confidence-boosting knock in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. The only expectation is he doesn’t look back and plays at No.4. Such players’ confidence will be crucial, especially on conditions where there is a bit of a grip. Even in the first match, we saw the partnership between Tilak and Axar Patel in tricky conditions."

Despite Tilak's knock of 62 from 34 deliveries, India suffered a 51-run defeat while chasing 213 as South Africa leveled the series 1-1.