‘Bat him at No. 3’: Former India batter makes case for Sanju Samson ahead of T20 World Cup | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just 50 days away, the Indian team’s numbers no longer scream dominance, although recent results offer some comfort.As the defending champions, India began their post-2024 title run in ruthless fashion, winning 17 of their next 20 T20Is. Eight scores were over the 200 mark, five of them were over 220 and three were over the 245 mark, highlighting a batting unit operating well ahead of the curve. That curve has flattened since the 2025 Asia Cup. India’s overall strike rate has fallen to 141.64, a worrying decline for a team that had redefined intent at the top of the order.
Since the Asia Cup, Abhishek Sharma remains the only Indian batter to bat above 145. Everyone else has slowed down and the biggest talking point has turned to the new opening combination. The Sanju Samson-Abhishek Sharma partnership has set the tone for India’s rise to prominence after the 2024 World Cup. In 16 innings, the pair averaged 33.43 and scored at a blistering strike rate of 193.84. This initial momentum allowed India to maintain a strike rate of 154.56 till the middle overs and 169.39 at the over.The dynamic changed when Shubman Gill returned to the playing XI as part of the management’s long-term leadership plan. Samson, who amassed 417 runs in 12 T20Is at a strike rate of 183.70 with three centuries at the top, was relegated down the order. His returns in the Asia Cup were mixed, although he still finished as India’s third highest run-getter with 132 points, behind Abhishek Sharma’s 314 and Tilak Varma’s 213. A solitary outing in Australia at number 1. 3 ended without impact, after which Samson was left out of the playing XI.Gill’s returns since his return have been disappointing. In 15 matches, he scored 291 runs at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of 137, without a single fifty. The numbers point to a batter looking for rhythm at a time when the Indian top order needs clarity more than caution.Speaking at the JioStar newsroom ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, former India batter Robin Uthappa, who was part of the 2007 World Cup winning team, was clear about the balance he wants to see. “Personally, I wouldn’t like to change the opening combination,” Uthappa said. “What I would like to see is Sanju batting at No. 3, Tilak at No. 4 and Surya at No. 5. Suryakumar Yadav is playing his best cricket outside the powerplay. Tilak Verma needs a pivotal role in this team and that is why No. 4 suits him.”Uthappa explained that placing Tilak Verma at No. 4 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 5 would free up the top spot. “It gives the openers and the number 3 the power to go hard,” he said.
Shubman Gill of India (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
He then directly addressed the role of Gill. “You can get someone like Shubman Gill to play that presenting role that India desperately needs right now, so that everyone can play aggressively around him. India can still use the hyper-aggressive batting model that has worked for them, while Gill bats at a strike rate of 140-150, where he thrives. This is similar to the role Virat Kohli played in the last T20 World Cup.»The concerns extend beyond Gill, however. India’s intention also declined due to Suryakumar’s prolonged lean period. In 2025, the captain scored only 213 runs in 20 matches at an average of 14.20 and a strike rate of 125.29. With the captain and vice-captain struggling to stay fit, the pressure has inevitably shifted to the middle-order.During the same interaction, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan stressed that the experimentation phase must now end. “There’s been a lot of talk about redistricting and changing,” Pathan said. “I think the team management was trying to understand who could play different roles, but now is not the time to experiment. When the World Cup starts, it has to be very clear who is batting at what position. »This experiment is obvious. In the last two T20I series against Australia and South Africa, India tried several options at No. 3, including Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and even Axar Patel.Pathan also made no secret of his concern over Suryakumar’s form. “As a captain you have to bat well and be fit for a big tournament like the World Cup,” he said. “The problem is not only that he is not scoring runs, but his strike rate is also decreasing. His strike rate is usually around 166, but over the last year it has fallen to around 119.”Referring to Abhishek Sharma’s high-risk approach at the top, Pathan said such a style would inevitably lead to occasional early dismissals and that this is acceptable. “He doesn’t need to change,” Pathan said. “That’s why he was successful. But then the pressure comes in the middle. When you have an in-form Suryakumar Yadav, it becomes a completely different game. Hopefully he finds a way to stay at the crease a little longer and get those runs before the World Cup.»What Team India needs right now is certainty about roles. As the World Cup approaches, getting back into rhythm, fixing roles and getting leaders back into the races can be far more important than any tactical adjustments.
