Chris Srikanth, a former India national cricket team player, has made a huge claim on the future of Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson in the T20I team.
Chris Srikanth estimated that Gautam Gambhir-led team is just a strategy to transfer Sanju Samson to the middle order for the management that eventually has a strategy to replace it with Shers Iyer in T20I, India.
Sanju Samson retained the XI playing XI in India
India fielded playing XI for the opening match of their Asia Cup 2025 against the UAE National Cricket Team at Dubai International Stadium.
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Star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was retained in XI despite the return of Shubman Gill despite Shubman Gill’s return.
This came as a large-scale surprise as it was heavy that the XI, who played with Gill’s return, would cause the outdoor exit of the opening batsman Samson, and Jitesh Sharma, being a middle-order expert, would handle the wicket-keeping duties.
However, the team management led by Gautam Gambhir decided to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill and killed Sanju Samson in the middle-order.
Shreyas Iyer will replace her – Chris Srikanth
In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Chris Srikanth said that Sanju Samson is being built to bat at number 5, is a wrong step, and after some failures, Shreyas Iyer will convert him to Playty XI. He explained in detail:
“I somehow feel by batting Sanju at the age of 5, he is making a way for Shreyas Iyer to return to favor. Sanju has not batted much at the age of 5 and he should not bat either in that position. It will batting his faith in number 5. Shreyas Iyer will replace him.
“They are playing Sanju Samson in mid -order. Are they going to use him as a finisher? No. It will be Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey. Therefore, Samson will play at the age of 5. Will he distribute? This is a question mark. You have adjusted Sanju Samson ahead of Jitesh Sharma. It is good for this Asia Cup but what is it?”
Arshdeep Singh is the T20 Player of the Year and yet he did not provide the facility at 11 – Chris Srikanth
Another selection bomb, which fell in its first match of India Asia Cup 2025, was the non-selection of left-handed pacer Arshdeep Singh at the playing XI.
Talking about Pesar’s snub, Chris Srikanth said he was extremely surprised by the strange selection call made by the team management. He explained in detail:
“Very, very strange selection. Arshdeep Singh is a T20 player of the year and still did not provide facility in 11. Of course, Pakistan is another average side, so this bowling attack should be enough for him. They will play the same 11 against Pakistan only.
Srikanth said, “If I were a selector, the only way to convince Arshdeep Singh will tell him that he is the number one bowler in the world, but these conditions are not suitable for him,” Srikanth said.
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