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2d ago

India Back Sanju Samson at No.5 for Pakistan Clash in Asia Cup

Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak says the wicketkeeper is ready for the role, framing the move as management’s choice despite external doubts about his best position.

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Sanju Samson was slotted at No.5 in India's Asia Cup opener against the UAE.
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Sanju Samson was slotted to bat at No.5 in the Asia Cup match against the UAE.

Overview

  • Sitanshu Kotak said Samson has not batted often at No.5–6 but is happy to take the challenge, hinting he will remain in the middle order against Pakistan.
  • Shubman Gill returned as vice-captain to open with Abhishek Sharma, with Samson kept in the XI over Jitesh Sharma in the UAE win where he did not bat.
  • Former selector Kris Srikkanth argued Samson’s shift to No.5 could clear a path for Shreyas Iyer and warned Samson could be replaced after a few low scores.
  • Reporting highlights Samson’s stronger T20I record as an opener (522 runs and three hundreds) versus modest returns at No.5 (about 62 runs), raising role-fit questions.
  • Kotak described batters as ‘floaters’ and noted multiple finishers in Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, underscoring the Asia Cup’s use to test combinations before the 2026 T20 World Cup.