Will Sanju Samson once again pay the price for being too flexible? Will he miss out on a spot in the playing XI for the India vs South Africa T20 series? This is the same batter who held India’s T20 middle order together when Shubman Gill was out of the setup for an entire year. But the moment Gill returned, Samson was first pushed down the order in the Asia Cup, and then quietly shown the door.
Suryakumar Yadav on Sanju Samson
When asked about his selection ahead of the 1st T20I, Suryakumar Yadav said, "In terms of Sanju, yes, when he came into the circuit, he batted higher up in the order. Now, the thing is, other than the openers, everyone has to be very flexible. He did really well when he opened the innings, but Shubman had played before him in the Sri Lanka series, and so he deserved to take that spot."
Read that again. A player who didn’t feature in T20Is for a whole year walks back in and instantly reclaims his position, even if the guy who filled that role smashed 3 centuries there. How does this logic stand?
"But we gave Sanju opportunities - he's ready to bat at any number, which is good to see - any player who's ready and flexible to bat anywhere from three to six. I have told batters other than the openers that you have to be flexible to bat," added Surya during the pre-match press conference.
"So, both are in the scheme of things - it's lovely to have players like them be a part of the squad. One can open; the other can bat lower down the order - even both can do all the roles. So they are a good asset for our team and a good headache to have," he concluded.
Wait a second - isn’t Sanju an opener too? Yet he was pushed down. And since Gill’s T20I comeback, his returns read: 7 innings, 148 runs, 0 fifties. That’s the cold, undeniable truth. Let’s be brutally honest - Shubman Gill is a world-class batter. When he fires, bowlers look like headless chickens. But the real issue isn’t his talent; it’s the refusal to accept that no matter what, Gill will be accommodated in the XI, even if it means reshuffling, demoting, or outright sidelining others who’ve actually delivered.
And right now, the one paying the price for that reality is Sanju Samson.
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