Overview

• Sanju Samson was named at No. 5 in India’s Asia Cup opener against the UAE, where Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma opened and Samson did not bat.
• Krishnamachari Srikkanth contends the batting shift is designed to clear a path for Shreyas Iyer and cautions Samson has two or three innings to make runs or lose his spot.
• Samson’s output at No. 5 has been modest compared with his top-order record, with reported T20/T20I numbers showing far lower averages and strike rates in the middle order.
• Despite strong IPL 2025 form, Iyer was left out of both India’s Asia Cup squad and the five-player reserves, drawing criticism of the selectors’ choices.
• Srikkanth questions Samson’s middle-order role with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube handling finishing duties and voices doubt that the current group can defend the T20 World Cup.