Former India opener Kris Srikkanth empathised with Sanju Samson, who has batted in different positions since relinquishing his opener's slot in India's T20 team after Shubman Gill's return to the side and subsequent appointment as vice-captain ahead of last month's Asia Cup.
The former chief selector feels that the instability with respect to his batting position has dented Samson's confidence. During the Asia Cup, the Kerala star batted at No. 3, No. 5, and also at No. 8.
“The guy who’s most unlucky
is Sanju Samson. He was scoring centuries as an opener. But now they send him everywhere from 3 to 8,” Srikkanth said. “If given an opportunity, they may send him at 11 also. So a person like Sanju will definitely feel bad, having done so well at the top. But he has no option but to stay quiet and bat wherever the team asks him to," Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Srikkanth, however, expressed his relief, as he feels that Samson has at least cemented his spot in the playing XI with some solid performances while batting at No. 5. The cricketer-turned-expert named Samson as an automatic choice for the wicketkeeper's role in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup next year.
“The only good thing is he did well at No. 5 in the Asia Cup. It’s a good sign for him because now Sanju is the automatic choice as the first wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup. He is sure to bat at No. 5,” he noted, suggesting that Samson remains an integral part of India’s plans despite the experimentation.
Samson is currently in Australia, playing in the five-match T20I series against Mitchell Marsh and Co. He was a part of the Indian team in the first T20I at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. However, he didn't get the opportunity to bat as rain played spoilsport.
