India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has virtually confirmed that Sanju Samson will play in the middle order against Pakistan. The wicketkeeper batter was slotted at number five in India’s T20 Asia Cup opener against the UAE in Dubai.
Since the target was just 58, the Men in Blue didn’t require Samson’s services. Only Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav got a chance to bat. But the decision was rather shocking.
It was expected that Jitesh Sharma would be designated wicketkeeper. Since Gill was announced as India’s vice-captain, Samson was guaranteed to lose his opening spot. That happened, but instead of Samson, it was Jitesh who warmed the bench.
Samson happy to bat at any number, says Kotak
Two days before the India vs Pakistan match, Kotak spoke about the decision to demote the attacking opener. The domestic great accepted that Samson hasn’t batted a lot in the middle order, but given the quality batter he is, neither he nor the management has any doubt in his abilities.
Kotak says the captain, Suryakumar, and head coach, Gautam Gambhir, feel playing Samson at five or six over Jitesh is the right call, and the wicketkeeper himself has no issues about playing anywhere the team wants him to.
“He hasn’t batted at number five or six a lot of times. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t good enough to play at those positions. I think Sanju is good enough to bat at any number. Whatever the team’s requirement, the captain and head will decide. He’s more than happy to bat at any number,” Kotak told reporters at the ICC Academy during India’s practice session.
India’s squad for Asia Cup
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
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