Former Indian skipper Kris Srikkanth feels wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been treated unfairly regarding his shifting batting position in T20Is. The 30-year-old excelled as an opener for India after their 2024 T20 World Cup victory, scoring three centuries and averaging 37 at a blistering strike rate of 183 in 13 innings.
Samson formed a strong opening pair with Abhishek Sharma but was moved to the middle order after Shubman Gill’s return, batting mostly at No. 5 and once at No. 3. In India’s match against Bangladesh, he didn’t even get to bat until the No. 8 position, highlighting the uncertainty around his current role.
While discussing Sanju Samson’s frequent changes in batting position in T20Is, Srikkanth remarked on his YouTube channel:
“The guy who’s most unlucky is Sanju Samson. He was scoring centuries as an opener. But now they send him everywhere from 3 to 8. If given an opportunity, they may send him at 11 also. So a person like Sanju also will feel bad, having done so well at the top. But he has no option but to be tight-lipped and bat wherever the team asks him to.”
Srikkanth further added:
“The only good thing is he did well at 5 in the Asia Cup. It’s a good sign for him because now Sanju is the automatic choice as the first wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup. He is sure to bat at No. 5.”
“Hardik Pandya Likely To Replace Harshit Rana In 2026 T20 World Cup XI” – Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth predicted that Team India’s playing XI for next year’s T20 World Cup will largely mirror the side that featured in the first T20I against Australia in Canberra on October 29. The former opener stated that the only expected change would be the inclusion of all-rounder Hardik Pandya in place of Harshit Rana, while the rest of the lineup would likely remain unchanged for the tournament.
“The 11 that played today is more or less the one for the T20 World Cup. Hardik Pandya will come into the 11 for Harshit Rana. That’ll be the 11 for the World Cup. Arshdeep might have to miss out again because of the combination as we have to play three spinners,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
He further added:
“Dube can’t be dropped because India have won whenever he has played. He somehow ends up taking wickets even with his medium-pace bowling. So he’s your sixth option. So the team is almost set for the T20 World Cup. Now it’s all just about having match practice and getting into the rhythm.”
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