Sitanshu Kotak emphasized the flexibility of the batting order, explaining that the team management and captain decide based on match situations. Samson himself is comfortable batting anywhere the team requires. Despite Samson’s stellar performances as an opener, his impact in the middle order has been limited according to statistics. Still, the team management values his adaptability and believes he can play crucial finishing roles if needed. The role of each player will be dynamic throughout the tournament according to Sitanshu Kotak.
India are currently playing in the Asia Cup 2025, and a huge debate has ensued over the batting position of Sanju Samson, the Indian wicket-keeper batsman who has been demoted from being the opener of the Indian T20I side. India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has revealed the team’s plans.
There has been another major debate going around about the India vs. Pakistan match and if Indians have done the right thing by agreeing to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup after their massive clash on the battlefield. However, the Indians have shown clearly that they have adhered to the policies from their central government, and so they want to focus on playing cricket rather than thinking about these political controversies.
There was plenty of chatter regarding India’s opening pair-whether Sanju Samson would play-following Shubman Gill’s addition to the squad as vice-captain. The suspense finally ended on Wednesday, with both Samson and Gill included in the final XI. Jitesh Sharma, who was also in contention for the wicketkeeper’s role, did not find a place in the team. Meanwhile, India captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl after winning the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Team India’s combination vs UAE surprized many speculations
Sanju Samson had built a flourishing opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma in recent months, the pair adding 267 runs in 12 T20I innings at a strike rate of over 170. The Kerala batter has 861 T20I runs at a strike rate of 142, including three hundreds, and India are yet to lose a T20I series since the 2024 T20 World Cup with him as opener. In Dubai, however, Samson has been shifted to the middle order, with Gill returning at the top after a year’s absence.
Shubman Gill, who has 578 T20I runs at a strike rate of 139.29, also comes back as India’s vice-captain. His promotion, coupled with Samson’s modest return in India’s last home series, seems to have prompted the reshuffle. Jitesh Sharma, who earned a recall on the back of a standout IPL 2025 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, missed out as the management preferred Samson’s experience behind the stumps.
Tilak Varma retains his place at No. 3, with captain Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Samson is set to bat at No. 5, while Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel add depth to the middle and lower order. India’s bowling attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav providing the spin options. Notably, Arshdeep Singh, who recently broke into the top 10 of the ICC T20I bowling rankings, has not been included in the playing XI.
With this playing XI, Team India thrashed UAE by 9 wickets. However ahead of all important clash vs Pakistan, Indian assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak blindly refuse any agenda in Team Selection process .
Sitanshu Kotak blindly refuses any agenda in Team selection
India men’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has categorically denied any ‘agenda’ or favoritism for selection in the team, saying that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav try to do what’s best for the team. He said the entire team knows this, and those on the bench try to support the starters.
 Sitanshu Kotak’s answer was in response to a query about Arshdeep Singh’s absence from the team’s Asia Cup opener against the UAE on Wednesday. India’s top wicket-taker in T20Is found himself among the substitutes as the team picked only one specialist pacer in Jasprit Bumrah, two specialist spinners, and three all-rounders.
The move paid off on the spinning track as they bowled out the UAE for just 57 and shot it down with nine wickets to spare.
“The first discussion we have with the head coach and the captain is that obviously, these 15 are like this, everyone deserves to play,” Sitanshu Kotak said on Friday, as quoted by PTI.
“If any player is not playing, it will be difficult for him because he will feel [left] out. But, at the end of the day, it’s a team sport. So, everyone knows that there is no agenda, there is no personal liking, disliking. Whatever is best for the team, the captain and head coach will decide and do that. And I don’t think there is any doubt in anybody’s mind. So, whoever is not playing, they are always trying to help the guys who are playing,” Sitanshu Kotak added.
Another decision that became subject to social media debates was the demotion of Sanju Samson to the middle order. Samson was doing brilliantly as an opener before the Asia Cup, but the return of Shubman Gill to the squad alongside the vice-captaincy duties meant one of Samson and Abhishek Sharma had to be dislodged. Kotak defended that by saying that every batter is prepared to bat wherever the team needs.
“See, Sanju has not batted a lot at No. 5 or 6. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t do it. So, I think Sanju is a good enough player to bat at any number. So, according to the requirement of the team, captain and head coach will decide. And he is more than happy to bat at any number,” Sitanshu Kotak said.
“If you look at our batting line-up, everyone is capable of going in at any number and finish the match. Although we have four-five such aggressive players, the head coach or captain can decide according to the situation.
More or less, everyone is prepared to bat at any number. Sanju, in the last match, he would have batted at number 5. In the next match, he can bat at any number. So, it is not fixed. Everyone knows their role. So, they will be ready according to the situation,” Sitanshu Kotak added.