Former India cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the team management’s decision to play Jitesh Sharma ahead of Sanju Samson in the third T20I against Australia in Hobart. Chopra expressed surprise at the sudden change, especially when Jitesh had not played a single match during the entire Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.
Australia made a challenging score of 187 runs in the third T20 match in Hobart. India achieved this with nine balls to spare and achieved their highest successful chase ever at the venue. Jitesh Sharma finally got his chance and made an impact with a quickfire innings of 22 runs off 13 balls.
Aakash Chopra criticizes India’s “random” selection call after Sanju Samson’s shocking omission
However, Aakash Chopra believes that the selection strategy of the Indian cricket team seems inconsistent. He recalled how Samson, who was trusted in the Asia Cup 2025 and had scored 132 runs at a strike rate above 120, was suddenly out after a poor outing at No. 3 in the second T20I.
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Earlier, Samson was sent down the order after Shubman Gill was made vice-captain and promoted as an opening batsman, creating further confusion in India’s batting plans. Chopra felt that such random changes in the lineup could destabilize the players and hinted that the management still lacked clarity about India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in T20Is.
Why are we looking for logic?: Aakash Chopra
“Jitesh Sharma has played, and Sanju Samson has not played. So, what does that mean? I would say don’t read anything between the lines for a simple reason: we are unable to understand. Why are we looking for logic? When Shubman Gill started opening, it was assumed that Jitesh Sharma would only play lower down the order,” Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The commentator further added, “The entire Asia Cup passed, and he didn’t play. First Sanju played lower down the order and then higher up the order. Sanju also played in the final and scored some important runs. Now you sent him in at No. 3 in an innings and then dropped him after that. I know Sanju’s fans will be rightfully angry, but I don’t see any final point in that, that he won’t be there and Jitesh Sharma will play because it was a bit of a random selection.”
Aakash Chopra expresses concern over Shubman Gill’s struggle in Australia
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra has expressed serious concern over Shubman Gill’s current form and said that the Indian vice-captain does not have time to perform well on the Australian tour. Gill, who was expected to lead India’s batting, has struggled for consistency in this format so far.
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Gill looked promising in the first match in Canberra, scoring 37 not out off 20 balls, but since then his performance has declined rapidly. In Melbourne, he managed only five runs before being dismissed due to a mistimed shot, and in Hobart, he again fell cheaply for 15 off 12 balls on a full-length delivery, exposing his lack of control.
Chopra believes that the pressure is now increasing on the young opener, especially as the competition for top-order spots is increasing. Both Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal are waiting for their chances, and Gill’s inconsistent run could open the door to a reshuffle in India’s batting lineup.
He finally said, “There is a need to talk about Shubman Gill because he is not able to score runs. He played well in Canberra in the first match. In Melbourne, the ball hit him on the head and he also played a bit of a loose shot and here he got out on a very full ball. There is a question mark on this. You are coming under pressure. This is not a good thing.”
