Former India National Cricket Team player Kris Srikkanth has made a colossal claim on the future of the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson in the T20I team.
Kris Srikkanth speculated that the Gautam Gambhir-led team management’s call to move Sanju Samson to the middle-order is just a strategy to eventually replace him with Shreyas Iyer in India’s T20I playing XI.
Sanju Samson retained in India playing XI for UAE clash
India dropped a massive selection surprise when they fielded the playing XI for their Asia Cup 2025 opening match against the UAE National Cricket Team at the Dubai International Stadium.
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The star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was retained in the playing XI despite the return of Shubman Gill as the vice-captain and opener to the side.
It came as a massive surprise because it was heavily speculated that the return of Gill would lead to the opening batsman Samson’s exit from the playing XI, and Jitesh Sharma, being a middle-order specialist, would handle the wicket-keeping duties.
But, the Gautam Gambhir-led team management decided to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill and slotted Sanju Samson in the middle-order.
Shreyas Iyer will replace him – Kris Srikkanth
In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth said that Sanju Samson being made to bat at No.5 is a wrong move, and after a couple of failures, Shreyas Iyer will replace him in the playing XI. He elaborated:
“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 or three innings at this position, Shreyas Iyer will replace him.
“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?”
Arshdeep Singh is the T20 player of the year and yet he didn’t feature in the 11 – Kris Srikkanth
Another selection bomb that India dropped in their first match of the Asia Cup 2025 was the non-selection of the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI.
Talking about the pacer’s snub, Kris Srikkanth said he was extremely shocked by the strange selection call made by the team management. He elaborated:
“Very, very strange selection. Arshdeep Singh is the T20 player of the year and yet he didn’t feature in the 11. Of course, Pakistan is another mediocre side so this bowling attack should be enough for them. They’ll play the same 11 only against Pakistan.
“If I were the selector, the only way to convince Arshdeep Singh would be telling him that he is the world’s number one bowler but that these conditions are not suitable for him,” said Srikkanth.
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