Sanju Samson‘s batting position has become uncertain due to Shubman Gill’s addition to the squad and his elevation as vice-captain as well. Shubman Gill opened the batting with Abhishek Sharma in India’s first game in the Asia Cup against UAE. Sanju Samson, who had previously opened with Sharma before Gill came in has become uncertain and this adds intrigueness amongst fans and experts as to where Sanju Samson will bat. Sanju Samson being played at No.5 vs UAE & PAK has created a lot of chatter on social media.
Ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 match against the UAE, most believed that the Indian management would choose Jitesh Sharma over Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper in the playing XI. The notion gained more prominence, looking at the practice sessions and the inclusion of Shubman Gill in the squad as the vice-captain. As soon as Gill made his return, it was a given that he would open alongside Abhishek Sharma, leaving Samson’s place in jeopardy.
Jitesh showed remarkable form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), hence it was expected that he would be picked ahead of Sanju Samson in the middle-order. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to stick with continuity and not show the door to Samson, looking at how he scored three T20I centuries in the last year, albeit as an opener.
Sanju Samson has scored just 62 runs for India while batting at No.5 at an average of 20.62. His numbers are way better as an opener (522 runs with three centuries). Following Sanju Samson’s demotion in the batting order, Former Indian player now commentator Aakash Chopra has taken an interesting take on the position play of Sanju Samson in the Indian Playing XI.
Sanju Samson is now your designated finisher- Aakash Chopra
Former opener Aakash Chopra feels that India might use Sanju Samson as an designated finisher in T20Is following the India- Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai on Sunday on September 14. The cricketer-turned commentator said that the wicketkeeper-batter is unlikely to bat in the Top 4 , hinting at the ongoing pattern following Shubman Gill’s return as vice-captain.
Notably, Sanju Samson traditionally an opener who slammed 3 T20I tons as an opener in the last calendar year didnt get a chance to bat vs UAE and PAK as India registered clinical victories by 9 and 7 wickets respectively. Speaking to ESPNCrinfo’s Youtube Channel, Aakash Chopra said :
“(Sanju Samson) It’s quite clear that he’s not gonna be batting in the top three or even four. So, he’s now your designated finisher.”
The return of Shubman Gill to the T20I side after 13 months, as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy, indicates that he will slot in as one of the openers. His partner, almost certainly, will be Punjab teammate Abhishek Sharma, and not necessarily because the latter ticks one of the huge projects of the Suryakumar-Gautam Gambhir leadership group – his left-handedness.
In 17 T20Is, the 25-year-old Abhishek has already slammed two centuries, striking at 193.84; his last outing for the country netted 135, off a mere 54 deliveries, against the shell-shocked Englishmen at the Wankhede. It helps that he is also a handy left-arm spinner.
A case is being made out for Samson to bat at No. 3, but how does one displace Tilak Varma, who made successive tons after asking for and getting that position from Suryakumar in South Africa? Sanju Samson has amassed almost all his T20 runs at the top of the order and there isn’t enough evidence of what he can or can’t do at No. 5 and beyond.
India’s four practice sessions at the ICC Academy Oval since their arrival in Dubai last Thursday have provided a peek into which way the think-tank is aligned. Jitesh is the one who has been put through extensive wicketkeeping drills, he has batted longer and against fresher bowlers than Sanju Samson. Perhaps one is reading too much into all this, but Jitesh was present at Tuesday evening’s optional training session ahead of Wednesday’s opener against UAE while Sanju Samson wasn’t. Make of all this what you will.
Batting at number five for India, Sanju Samson has scored 62 runs at an average of 20.62, which is a dip when compared to his opening numbers, where, from 11 innings, he managed to amass 522 runs at an average of 32.63, including three centuries
If Gambhir’s tenure as the head coach is anything to go by, he likes to be flexible with his batting lineup. Hence, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sanju Samson comes to bat at No.3 in the next few matches in the Asia Cup. In the game against the UAE, Suryakumar Yadav came to bat at No.3 after Abhishek Sharma lost his wicket for 30 runs. However, the presence of Tilak Varma in the XI makes things all the more interesting.
Against Pakistan too after the fall fo Gill and Abhishek, India chose to stay with the right left combination formula with skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma taking the crease accompaining an easy chase vs them. This left Sanju Samson in the next slot to come in alongside Shivam Dube but low scoring Asia Cup meant that a abtter with the calibre of Sanju samson may have to wait longer for his batting chance to come on the cricket field with this Indian Playing XI.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Aakash Chopra Expects Arshdeep Singh To Not Feature Against Pakistan