The Kerala superstar Sanju Samson was the first-choice opener and wicketkeeper-batsman of Team India for most of the T20I matches since last year. Sanju Samson did a fantastic job as an opener for India and slammed some sensational centuries, which helped him receive great backing from Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav.
However, Sanju Samson was demoted in the batting order on the return of Shubman Gill to the T20Is, with the new vice-captain opening the innings with explosive Abhishek Sharma. Initially, it was expected that Sanju Samson would be completely out of the playing XI, with Jitesh Sharma taking the keeping gloves and batting in the middle order. However, the Indian team management backed Sanju Samson, and now Ryan ten Deoschate has said that the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman is the best choice for the No.5 role.
Right-handed batter Sanju Samson has a new role to deal with, and it’s safe to say that he has not set the stage on fire while batting at No.5 in the 2025 Asia Cup. The 30-year-old Sanju Samson might have scored a half-century against Oman in the group stage; however, his performance in the Super 4s game against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium left much to be desired. Sanju Samson scored 13 runs off 17 balls, and his innings was cut short by Haris Rauf.
Sanju Samson has been in an outstanding form in the past few years in T20I. With 417 runs at an average of 37.90 and a strike rate of 183.70 in 12 games—including an incredible three hundreds—the stylish batter Sanju Samson has amassed the highest run total among wicketkeepers. Sanju Samson has also had outstanding results in T20 cricket overall over the past 12 months, scoring 739 runs at an average of 35.19 and strike rate of 161.70 in 23 games.
However, 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)
Ahead of the Super 4s match against Bangladesh, Team India assistant coach Ryan Ten Deoschate admitted that Sanju Samson is still getting used to his new role; however, he was quick to point out that the management fully believes in his abilities.
Ryan Ten Deoscathe is confident of Sanju Samson’s resurgence
Sanju Samson appears to have the backing of the team management as he looks to settle into a middle-order role in the Asia Cup 2025. The Kerala batter, who had enjoyed success as an opener in recent months, was asked to vacate the slot after Shubman Gill was recalled to the T20I side.
Speaking to the press on the eve of India’s second Super Four match against Bangladesh, scheduled for September 24, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the management believes Samson is the right man to play in the middle-order despite the competition for slots. India have persisted with Samson despite having middle-order specialists, Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh, in the squad.
The former Netherlands captain, now an integral part of Gautam Gambhir’s support staff, acknowledged that Sanju Samson will require time and backing to succeed in the new position, having spent most of his career opening the batting.
Team India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has backed Sanju Samson to perform the role of the No. 5 batter in T20Is, even though it’s an unfamiliar position for the cricketer. He indirectly hinted that there seems to no place in the top four right now in T20Is, hence Samson will have to prove himself at No. 5.
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings during the five-match T20I series in England earlier this year. While Abhishek was impressive with the bat, Sanju Samson failed to make an impact. Ahead of Asia Cup 2025, Shubman Gill was recalled to the T20I team and has opened with Abhishek in all of Team India’s matches in the tournament being played in the UAE.
At a press conference ahead of India’s second Super 4 match against Bangladesh, Ten Doeschate shed light on the team’s thinking with regard to Sanju Samson’s batting position in the T20I playing XI. The former Dutch cricketer stated:
“Yeah, I think he has had two decent chances. And I think he is still figuring out how to play that role. I think the wicket also got a little bit tired in the Pakistan game,” Ten Doeschate said.
Sanju Samson scored a fifty against the UAE in India’s final group-stage match after coming in at No. 3, but he struggled for rhythm against Pakistan in the first Super Four clash on Sunday. Chasing 172, Samson laboured to 13 off 17 deliveries before being bowled by Haris Rauf, appearing to push too hard in the middle overs.
“But certainly with the way Shubman and Abi are going at the top, and with your captain batting at No. 3, and the way Tilak has played, we are looking for a No. 5. We believe Sanju is the best man for the job. I have no doubt he will figure out how to play that role in the future,” Ten Doeschate added.
Sanju Samson has averaged nearly 40 as an opener in the past two years, but in more than 15 innings in the middle-order, he has managed just one fifty-plus score. Even in the IPL, he has largely featured in the top four for Rajasthan Royals, making this role an unfamiliar challenge. The wicketkeeper-batter had struck three hundreds in a month last year, establishing himself alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top. But with Gill reinstated as vice-captain for the Asia Cup, Sanju Samson was forced to shift down the order.
Many had expected Jitesh Sharma to take the gloves and bat in the middle-order ahead of Samson, but the management has stuck with the senior gloveman.
Ten Doeschate also pointed out that India’s middle-order batters have had limited opportunities so far, given the strong form of openers Gill and Abhishek Sharma. India even made a conscious effort to give their untested batters time in the middle in the final group-stage match against the UAE.
The assistant coach all but confirmed that Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma, who have been warming the bench, are unlikely to feature in this tournament.
“We tried in Abu Dhabi to get these guys some time in the middle. But we are managing things with an eye on doing well in key tournaments like the Asia Cup. Someone like a Rinku or a Jitesh is unlikely to get game time given the current situation. But they are doing well in training.
“We probably have to look at bilateral series as a realistic opportunity to give them exposure. With the Super Four format, even two wins don’t guarantee progression to the next stage. We can’t afford to take our foot off the pedal,” he said.
India face Bangladesh on Wednesday and Sri Lanka on Friday in Dubai. Having thrashed Pakistan in their opening Super Four game, they are well placed to qualify for the final on September 28. The Asia Cup is also a crucial step in India’s preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup, with a five-match T20I series in Australia lined up for October-November.
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