'If he was playing, there would be no confusion' - Former India batter gives honest take on Sanju Samson's position

Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: Santanu Banik/MB Media/Getty Images)

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has claimed that India is grooming Shubman Gill as the next captain in the shorter formats, which could be a major reason why Sanju Samson lost his spot as an opener. Gill was appointed vice-captain of the T20I side earlier this year during the Asia Cup, signalling the team management’s long-term vision for his leadership role.

Once Gill was promoted to vice-captain, his inclusion in every T20I match became almost certain. To accommodate him at the top of the order, Samson was pushed out of his preferred position. However, Gill’s form in the shorter formats has been inconsistent, while Samson was enjoying a strong run of form before the reshuffle. 

“If Sanju Samson were playing, there would be no confusion, but with Shubman Gill as vice-captain playing in all matches, Sanju Samson seems sidelined. Jitesh Sharma is seen as a better finisher at number five or six than Sanju, which works in Sharma’s favor. But because Gill is being groomed as a future captain and player, Sanju has lost his spot. Sanju’s record is excellent, with a strike rate of around 150. But they are backing players by the batting number position now,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra criticised the team management for its confusing approach regarding Samson’s demotion from the opening spot following the arrival of Gill and his eventual exclusion from the playing XI.

“The biggest question that is looming large is – what have we decided about Sanju Samson? Sanju not playing is a big, big, big question as to why we are doing like that. We played Sanju and he had done decently as well. I won’t say he had done extraordinarily, but he was okay. You made him bat up the order against Oman and he scored a fifty,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Samson was dropped after the second T20I against Australia, where he batted at No. 3 and was dismissed for just two runs.