Sanju Samson has been talking the biggest in Indian cricket for the last few weeks, and the debate for the Asia Cup 2025 selection is going to end very soon.
The India National Cricket Team will open its campaign in the Asia Cup against the UAE National Cricket Team on Wednesday, September 10, and the playing XI will clarify in which direction the team is going.
If Sanju is slot at number 3, he will play – MSK Prasad
Before the commencement of the Continental tournament, many cricket experts have shared their views on whether Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman should be slot in XI, India.
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The latest is a former India Gloveman and BCCI chief selector, MSK Prasad, to join Bandwagan. He said that Sanju Samson is entitled to a place in No.3 in XI, India.
Prasad said that if Samson does not secure a place in the top order, he will not join XI, despite his impressive contribution with the bat in T20I cricket since last year. He said:
“If Sanju is moved at number 3, he will play. He has also batted high even in the back-to-back centuries in South Africa. In Peking Order, he comes ahead of Jitesh.
“But if he is not batting at the age of 3, I am not watching him at 5 or 6.
Jeetesh is a better finisher, there is no doubt – MSK Prasad
MSK Prasad further stated that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batsman Jeetesh Sharma is a better finisher than Sanju Samson, and if the team management feels that the top-order is settled, he will get this node. However, Prasad questioned the head coach Gautam Gambhir as to what Sanju Samson has done wrong, it has been sidelined. He explained in detail:
“Jitesh is a better finisher, there is no doubt. He understands that role well. On the other hand, Sanju, always batting the order has been most effective. So it really depends on what the team management wants. If they need a top -order wicketkeeper, Sanju is clearly liked.
“But if he feels that the top order is fixed and a finisher is required, Jitesh can get the node. In any way, it is a good problem, but to be honest, what is done wrong to sideline Sanju? He has scored hundreds of scores in South Africa, and you cannot ignore it,” he said.
How did Sanju Samson’s position come under threat in T20I XI of India?
Sanju Samson has been India’s first choice wicketkeeper-batsman and opener in T20I cricket for some time. However, now his place is in danger.
This is because Shubman Gill has returned to the T20I team for the Asia Cup and has been nominated as the vice-captain, which has guaranteed him a place as a opener.
Speaking to the media, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agkar confirmed that Abhishek Sharma is the first choice T20I opener, and Gill’s height makes him the second opener.
In addition, Jitesh Sharma has been killed in the squad, indicating that India is looking at a wicketkeeper-batsman who can bat in the middle-order unlike Sanju Samson, the best seen at the top.
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