“They are making way for Shreyas Iyer to return” - Ex-Indian selector on Sanju Samson batting at No.5 in Asia Cup

Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth has stated that Shreyas Iyer will replace Sanju Samson if the keeper-batter doesn’t perform well in the next three innings in the middle-order in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 campaign.

Notably, with Shubman Gill’s comeback to the Indian T20I side, Samson was demoted to the No.5 batting slot. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth didn’t like the idea of Samson playing in the middle-order, which could pave the way for Iyer’s comeback sooner than later.

“I somehow feel by making Sanju bat at 5, they are making way for Shreyas Iyer to return to the side. Sanju hasn’t batted much at 5, and he shouldn’t bat at that position either. It will dent his confidence batting at No. 5. I am not too happy for him. To Sanju, I would warn him by saying that this is his last chance. I would also tell him if he fails to score in the next three innings at this position, Shreyas Iyer will replace him,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, the former cricketer also questioned the Indian think tank team on their long-term plan for Samson, especially with the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka next year.

“They are playing Sanju Samson in the middle-order. Are they going to use him as the finisher? No. That’ll be Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. So, Samson will play at 5. Will he deliver? That’s a question mark. You’ve accommodated Sanju Samson ahead of Jitesh Sharma. It is fine for this Asia Cup but what will happen in the T20 World Cup?" he added.

Moreover, Srikkanth strongly felt that the current Indian team can win the Asia Cup title, but there is no chance they can win the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 title as they have gone backwards in terms of selection calls.

"We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criterion for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that,” he concluded.

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