India’s batting order saw a major shake-up in the Asia Cup 2025, following the return of opener Shubman Gill. The change led to the unexpected breakup of the successful Abhishek Sharma–Sanju Samson opening combination — a pair that had delivered big for India in the past year.
In 2024 alone, Sanju Samson notched up three centuries as an opener, with two of those coming on tough South African pitches. His synergy with Abhishek was seen as one of India’s most dependable white-ball opening pairs. However, with Gill’s comeback, team management was forced to reshuffle the top order — pushing Samson down to No.5, a position unfamiliar to the Kerala-born cricketer.
Sanju Samson’s New Role at No.5 Sparks Criticism from Kris Srikkanth
The decision to demote Samson in the batting lineup didn’t sit well with former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth strongly criticized the move, suggesting it could damage Samson’s confidence and signaling a possible agenda to make room for Shreyas Iyer’s comeback.
“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,” said Srikkanth.
He went on to issue a stern warning to Samson, noting that his place in the XI is far from secure:
“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 three innings at this position, Shreyas Iyer will replace him.”
Selection Dilemma: Samson vs. Jitesh Sharma and the Finishing Role
Another talking point is Jitesh Sharma’s inclusion in the squad, which initially led many to question whether Samson would even feature in India’s first-choice playing XI. With both Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube already part of the middle-order setup, Srikkanth believes there is limited clarity on Samson’s exact role.
“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,” Srikkanth pointed out.
He further questioned the long-term vision behind this selection, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner.
“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?”
India’s next big clash in the Asia Cup 2025 will be against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 (Sunday) — a highly anticipated match that could determine the group leader. As pressure mounts and competition intensifies, all eyes will be on Sanju Samson’s performance at No.5. Whether he adapts quickly or gets replaced, only time — and the next three innings — will tell.
