India’s wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson once again finds himself at the center of a cricketing debate. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has voiced strong criticism against the team management, questioning their inconsistent approach towards Samson’s role in the T20I squad.
Following a single appearance at number three during the recent Australia tour, Samson was dropped from the playing XI. This decision came as Jitesh Sharma impressed with a quickfire cameo in Hobart, seemingly pushing Samson further down the pecking order.
The Sanju Samson Dilemma: Aakash Chopra Questions Team India’s Inconsistent Strategy
Aakash Chopra, speaking on his popular YouTube channel, highlighted the puzzling decisions surrounding Samson’s frequent shuffling and eventual exclusion. He emphasized that despite promising performances, Samson continues to face an uncertain future.
“The biggest question is, what are we doing with Sanju Samson?” Chopra asked. “He has done reasonably well, scoring a fifty against Oman and performing decently in the Asia Cup final. Yet, he keeps getting moved around and dropped. The management said they know what they are doing with him, and we respected that — but now this situation makes no sense.”
A Troubling Pattern: Performance vs. Placement
Samson’s journey since the 2024 T20 World Cup paints a picture of frustrating inconsistency. He stands as India’s third-highest run-scorer in T20Is during this period, even excelling as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma.
However, with Shubman Gill’s return as vice-captain, Samson has been consistently pushed back into the middle order, only to now find himself out of the playing XI entirely. This constant shifting of roles and positions raises concerns about player confidence and long-term development.
A Closer Look at Sanju Samson’s Recent T20I Journey
Here’s a snapshot of Sanju Samson’s recent outings, highlighting his fluctuating batting positions:
- September 10 (vs. U.A.E., Dubai): DNB
- September 14 (vs. Pakistan, Dubai): DNB
- September 19 (vs. Oman, Abu Dhabi): 56 runs (Batting Position: 3)
- September 21 (vs. Pakistan, Dubai): 13 runs (Batting Position: 5)
- September 24 (vs. Bangladesh, Dubai): DNB
- September 26 (vs. Sri Lanka, Dubai): 39 runs (Batting Position: 5)
- September 28 (vs. Pakistan, Dubai): 24 runs (Batting Position: 5)
- October 29 (vs. Australia, Canberra): DNB
- October 31 (vs. Australia, Melbourne): 23 runs (Batting Position: 2)
- November 2 (vs. Australia, Hobart): Dropped from XI
- November 6 (vs. Australia, Queensland): Dropped from XI
What Lies Ahead? The Jitesh Sharma Question
Chopra extended his concerns to Jitesh Sharma, the player who has seemingly replaced Samson. He questioned whether Jitesh would receive the consistent backing necessary to solidify his spot or if he would face a similar fate of frequent changes.
“If Jitesh has done well and the team has won, logic says you continue with him. But will they actually do that? I don’t know. There’s no clear direction here,” Chopra added, underscoring the broader issue of the team’s strategy.
Conclusion: The Need for Clear Direction
The continuous shuffling and eventual exclusion of Sanju Samson, despite his evident talent and decent performances, points to a lack of clear strategy from the Indian team management. Such an approach can be detrimental to player morale and hinder the development of a stable core for the national side.
As the team looks towards future tournaments, a more consistent and transparent selection policy, especially for players like Sanju Samson, appears to be critically needed.