NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has raised serious doubts over Sanju Samsonâ€s future in Indiaâ€s T20I setup, suggesting that the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter may have lost his place in the formatâ€s evolving pecking order.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Samson, who has been benched for the last two T20Is against Australia, has seen Jitesh Sharma preferred as wicketkeeper-batter in the lower middle order — a move endorsed by both Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India cricketers look very happy after win over Australia | Visuals from ground
Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, minced no words while dissecting Samsonâ€s predicament.“If Sanju Samson were playing, there would be no confusion, but with Shubman Gill as vice-captain playing in all matches, Sanju Samson seems sidelined,†Kaif explained.
Poll
Do you think Sanju Samson should remain in India’s T20I setup?
According to Kaif, Indiaâ€s team management appears to have moved towards role-specific selections, and that shift may have cost Samson his place.“Jitesh Sharma is seen as a better finisher at number five or six than Sanju, which works in Sharmaâ€s favour,†Kaif said. “But because Gill is being groomed as a future captain and player, Sanju has lost his spot.â€Kaif, however, was quick to acknowledge Samsonâ€s batting prowess.“Sanjuâ€s record is excellent, a strike rate of around 150. But they are backing players by the batting number position now,†he added.Samson had enjoyed a strong run earlier in the year, scoring freely as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. But the decision to fast-track Gillâ€s leadership path has pushed him to the sidelines once again.With home T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand later this year, Samsonâ€s chances to reclaim his spot appear slim. Indiaâ€s long-term T20 vision may have left one of Indiaâ€s most talented stroke-makers fighting for relevance.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.