Former Indian national cricket team batsman Mohammad Kaif has given a big statement as to why star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was dropped from the T20I playing eleven.
Mohammad Kaif clearly said that India’s T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill should be blamed for dropping Sanju Samson from the line-up despite his stellar performance last year.
Jitesh Sharma is seen as a better finisher than Sanju Samson-Mohammed Kaif
Kerala’s superstar wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has performed brilliantly as an opening batsman with the Indian T20I team since 2024 and has played some breathtaking innings for his team.
However, his stint as an opening batsman was cut short when the BCCI selection committee decided to recall Shubman Gill to the T20I squad and handed him the vice-captaincy for the Asia Cup 2025.
The leadership position meant that Gill got a fixed position at the top as an opening batsman with Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson being demoted.
Since then, Samson has been used mostly as a floater, and has not been given any fixed batting position. After the first two T20I matches of the series against Australia, he was dropped and replaced by explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma.
Talking about the treatment of Sanju Samson, Mohammad Kaif said that the gloveman has been sidelined as India have identified Shubman Gill as an ideal opener and Jitesh Sharma as a better candidate for the middle-order role.
“Had Sanju Samson been playing, there would have been no confusion, but with Shubman Gill playing as vice-captain in all the matches, Sanju Samson has been sidelined. Jitesh Sharma is seen as a better finisher at number five or six than Sanju, which works in Sharma’s favour.”
He said on his YouTube channel, “But because Gill is being groomed as a future captain and player, Sanju has lost his place. Sanju’s record is excellent, strike rate is around 150. But they are now supporting players based on batting number position.”
Gill is being backed as future captain – Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif further said that Shubman Gill is a good player and deserves all the opportunities in the world, but he cautioned the player to put in impressive performances to shut down the demand to include Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal as an opening batsman.
“Gill is being supported as a future captain. He is getting to play all the matches. But it is not that he is not a good player. They are not being supported without any reason. He has played well in the IPL for Gujarat, he has a good average in Tests and ODIs.
He said, “There is no flaw in him as a player but he is still taking time to find his best form in T20. Gill does not have big innings but there are many matches before the World Cup. He will have to perform like man of the match or man of the series to take off that pressure. Then people will talk less about Sanju and Jaiswal.”
You can look and try someone like Jaiswal-Mohammed Kaif
The former India batsman further said that India can recall Yashasvi Jaiswal in the T20I setup and include Samson in the playing XI and if Shubman Gill is rested for the South Africa T20I, he can be tried. He said:
“I think if Gill is rested for the South Africa series, if Jaiswal comes in, or Samson opens and scores, there will be more questions. You can look and try someone like Jaiswal.
“Maybe it might not be a bad decision. If they try these two, the picture will be clear before the World Cup. Actually it might not be a bad decision. You can look at all three and then see who among these three can perform well for the World Cup.”
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