India are currently playing in the Asia Cup 2025, and a huge debate has ensued over the batting position of Sanju Samson, the Indian wicket-keeper batsman who has been demoted from being the opener of the Indian T20I side. India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has revealed the team’s plans.
Sanju Samson, the Rajasthan Royals skipper, has been under the radar since he was reported to have even left the franchise ahead of the next season of the IPL. Samson has also been making deliberate attempts to seal his spot in the XI, with several strong performances.
Sanju Samson’s batting role revealed by Sitanshu Kotak
Sanju Samson, the batter who has been in stunning form for India in the last calendar year, marked a stunning return to international cricket. He scored 3 centuries in a single year as the opener of the side and was a great replacement for the great Rohit Sharma.
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However, this time around, with the return of Shubman Gill in the Indian T20I side, he has lost his opening spot to the Indian vice-captain. However, despite losing his position, he has not lost a spot in the XI. He might have to take up a new role on the Indian side, and Kotak revealed that the Kerala star could be seen batting at No.3.
“Sanju Samson hasn’t batted a lot at No. 5 or 6 but that doesn’t mean he can’t bat at that position. Everyone knows their roles. Last match he didn’t bat at No. 3 but that doesn’t mean the same thing will happen in the next game,” Kotak on Sanju Samson as reported by the PTI.
Sitanshu Kotak on the debate around whether they should play Pakistan in the Asia Cup
There has been another major debate going around about the India vs. Pakistan match and if Indians have done the right thing by agreeing to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup after their massive clash on the battlefield.
However, the Indians have shown clearly that they have adhered to the policies from their central government, and so they want to focus on playing cricket rather than thinking about these political controversies.
“Once the BCCI said they are aligned with government’s decision, our focus has been on the match,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on the debate around whether they should play Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
Will Arshdeep Singh return to India XI for the Asia Cup?
The left-arm pacer from India, who has been the most successful speedster in the history of the shortest format of the game for India, Arshdeep has picked 99 wickets in the format, while he awaits his 100th T20I wicket, the greatest T20I feat for an Indian cricketer.
Arshdeep Singh was benched from India’s starting XI in the Asia Cup opener against the UAE on the 10th of September. The tournament opener marked only Jasprit Bumrah as the lead pacer in the side.
However, with the stunning performance from Indian bowlers in the last game, there are very few chances of Arshdeep Singh making a return to the Indian playing XI. This is because the Indian coach is citing batting depth for the match against Pakistan.
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