"They may send him at 11 also" - Kris Srikkanth's scathing take on star Indian batter after AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I

Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth believes wicketkeeper Sanju Samson has been hard done by with respect to the change in his batting position in T20Is. The 30-year-old thrived at the opening role for India in T20Is post their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.

Samson scored three centuries and averaged 37 at a strike rate of 183 in 13 innings as an opener, while forming a dominating partnership with Abhishek Sharma. However, with the inclusion of Shubman Gill in the T20I squad since the recent Asia Cup, the Kerala gloveman has been relegated to the middle-order.

Samson batted at No. 5 thrice and at one-drop once in his four innings in the tournament. He also did not come out to bat until No. 8 in India's clash against Bangladesh.

Talking about Samson's constant change in batting position in T20Is, Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel (10:55):

"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. If given an opportunity, they may send him at 11 also. So a person like Sanju also will feel bad, having done so well at the top. But he has no option but to be tight-lipped and bat wherever the team asks him to."

Srikkanth added:

"The only good thing is he did well at 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."

Samson struggled batting out of position in the Asia Cup, averaging only 33 at a strike rate of under 125 in seven matches. Yet, he scored a crucial 21-ball 24 in a low-scoring final against Pakistan, helping India pull off a final-over win.

"Hardik Pandya will come in for Harshit Rana" - Kris Srikkanth on India's 2026 T20 World Cup playing XI

Kris Srikkanth believes Team India will likely play the same 11 for the T20 World Cup next year as the one that took the field in the opening T20I against Australia in Canberra on October 29. The former opener added that star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will replace Harshit Rana, with the rest of the lineup being the same for the mega event.

"The 11 that played today is more or less the one for the T20 World Cup. Hardik Pandya will come into the 11 for Harshit Rana. That'll be the 11 for the World Cup. Arshdeep might have to miss out again because of the combination as we have to play three spinners," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

He added:

"Dube can't be dropped because India have won whenever he has played. He somehow ends up taking wickets even with his medium-pace bowling. So he's your sixth option. So the team is almost set for the T20 World Cup. Now it's all just about having match practice and getting into the rhythm."

Team India played three spinners, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel, in the 11 for the series opener. They also had Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana as the two specialist pacers in the side.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran