The India National Cricket Team is currently undergoing a major shake-up in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, and all this is due to the sensational return of Shubman Gill in the T20I format after more than a year.
Shubman Gill’s return forced the Indian team management to reshuffle their batting order, pushing Sanju Samson to number 5.
Sanju Samson was playing as a opener for the last 12 months, but the place has now been given to Gill, which is now opening with Abhishek Sharma in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. Samson is now forced to bat in the mid -order, where he has not got much success in T20Is.
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Chris Srikanth warned Sanju Samson to a one-or-death moment
The move has already raised many eyebrows, and is no longer happy with the demonstration of former India opener and 1983 World Cup winner, Chris Srikanth, Sanju.
Srikanth believes that Samson’s position in India’s T20I team is now more fragile than ever, and he can lose his place only after a couple of poor sports. He boldly suggested that this arrangement was designed to return to Shreyas Iyer.
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Chris Srikanth said on his YouTube channel, “I would say to Sanju Samson, ‘Careful, Sanju, this is probably a do-or-dai opportunity for you. They can’t include you if you don’t score. If you do some games underperform for some games, Shreyas Iyer can come in Iyer.
Is Sanju Samson’s India career in trouble?
He said that Gautam Gambhir and Indian think tank’s call will affect Samson’s game, as he has a lie to open his strength. He scored 522 runs as India’s opener out of his total 861 runs in the T20I format, and even all three of his top tops.
Therefore, Srikanth feels that this sudden change can barely kill Sanju’s confidence. The former Indian chief selector said, “I am not sure if I am right or wrong. But, think about it: Sanju has not played number 5 in T20. His confidence can bat at number 5, and so I am not very happy.”
India’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad has already has two powerful finishers in Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey, and they have both played against the UAE.
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Chris Srikanth feels that Sanju Samson is just filling the opportunity
Given that, the former Indian chief selector surprised whether Samson is also being used as a finisher, or if he is just being fitted without a clear role.
Srikanth questioned Samson’s role in India’s XI and indicated that he was being fitted only without a clear role, as he cannot play as a finisher.
He further explained, “They (India) are playing Sanju Samson in the middle order. Are they going to use them as a finisher? No. It will be Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey. Therefore, Samson will play on 5. Is that a question?”
Can Sanju Samson T20 World Cup live until 2026?
Samson was liked on Jitesh Sharma for the Opener of India’s Asia Cup 2025 against the United Arab Emirates, but Srikanth is worried for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He feels that the Indian think tank may have to change its strategy for Kerala wicketkeeper-better.
He signed, saying, “Sanju Samson is included in front of Jitesh Sharma, which is fine for the Asia Cup. But what happens in the T20 World Cup?”