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Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nair has made a bold statement on Sanju Samson after the team’s poor batting collapse in the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge on July 7. Nair clarified that bringing Samson back into the playing eleven alone will not solve India’s problems unless the team management uses him in the right batting positions.
After India’s record 125-run defeat at Trent Bridge, there is a massive demand for Samson’s return to the playing eleven. Many believe that the wicketkeeper-batsman deserves another chance after India’s top order once again failed miserably on the England tour.
India’s poor batting has raised big questions over Sanju Samson’s exclusion.
While chasing the target of 202 runs against England, the batting of the Indian team captained by Shreyas Iyer completely collapsed. They were bowled out for just 76 runs in just 11.4 overs, their biggest defeat by runs in T20I history. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir kept Sanju Samson’s conversation private after England’s defeat.
This embarrassing defeat has put a lot of pressure on head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shreyas Iyer and the selectors, as it was their fourth consecutive defeat. Sanju Samson has been the most talked about topic after the defeat.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who played a key role in India’s successful 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, was dropped after scoring 5, 0 and 1 in his last three innings. He decided to give the opening spot to Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
However, Vaibhav failed to perform in his first two matches on the tour. Apart from this, Tilak Verma’s poor form has also increased the pressure on the current batting order.
After India’s poor batting, Abhishek Nair gave a big verdict on Samson.
Well, Abhishek Nair said that Samson has always performed at his best when opening the innings or batting in the top three. He believes that leaving out struggling batsman Tilak and sending Samson into the middle order to fit him into the team will not help the team or the senior wicketkeeper. The former assistant coach said that if the team cannot give Samson the top spot then it would be better not to play him and continue playing with Tilak.
Abhishek Nair said on Star Sports Networks, “I really think if you have to bring Sanju Samson back, you would want to put him in a position where he can be successful. Now, just because you want to bring him in, you are going to bat him at No. 4, 5 or 6. It is not something he has done a lot of. It is not something he has been successful in.”
The former assistant coach further explained, “He is best suited when he opens or bats in the top three. So, if you are not giving him that position, then I think it would be better not to play Sanju Samson and instead stick with the kind of batting line-up that India have.”
Abhishek Nair warns India not to be afraid of Sanju Samson
Nair also suggested the Indian team management not to make changes out of panic after a heavy defeat. He believes that the current situation requires smart decisions and not emotional ones.
He signed off by saying, “You don’t want to press the panic button. You don’t want to make changes for the sake of it. If Sanju Samson has to come in, all the management has to do is: Put him in a position where he can succeed.”