India legend accuses Gautam Gambhir of shattering Sanju Samson’s confidence

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth slammed head coach Gautam Gambhir for his handling of Sanju Samson after the second T20I of the five-match series in Australia. Srikkanth said that the constant changes in Samson’s batting position are making it difficult for him to settle mentally or prepare for a defined role.

India’s tactics of constantly tinkering with the batting order drew criticism. Samson was promoted to No. 3 after Shubman Gill’s dismissal. The team management had stated that Samson needed to adapt to a middle-order role in T20 Internationals, adding to the confusion around the team’s plans.

Don't Understand What They Are Doing with Sanju Samson - Kris Srikkanth

Speaking on his YouTube channel after the Melbourne T20I, Kris Srikkanth questioned why Sanju Samson is being shifted to a new position almost every game. He pointed out that Samson has been used anywhere between No. 3 and No. 8, making it impossible for him to understand his role.

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"I don't understand what they are doing with Sanju Samson. He bats at 5 one game then suddenly at 4, 6, 7 or 8. And this match he bats at 3," Srikkanth said.

"That is not fair, you've to give a fixed position. Mentally, only then a batsman can make up his mind. You can't just keep shuffling the batting order. You are spoiling that boy's confidence, which is not fair," he added.

Samson was dismissed LBW for just two runs in four balls. He had played as India’s T20I opener last year, but the return of Shubman Gill has pushed him into a middle-order role. The constant changes have left Samson without a settled position.

Sending Sanju Samson At No. 3 was a Knee-Jerk Reaction - Kris Srikkanth

Srikkanth called India’s decision to send Sanju Samson in at No. 3 a panic move due to the seaming conditions. Srikkanth also noted that Suryakumar Yadav had occupied the one-drop position in the opening game, where India were well placed at 97/1 before rain intervened.

"Sending him at No. 3 was a knee-jerk reaction. They sent him there once the ball was moving around and he also couldn't do anything. You are spoiling the balance of the team, forget about the individual. Just because there was some zip in the wicket, you sent Sanju out to bat and he got out immediately," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

Sanju Samson Must Have Not Even Had His Pads Ready - Kris Srikkanth

The former captain also said that Samson wasn’t even prepared to bat at No. 3. He stated that Samson would have expected Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma to go in ahead of him.

"He must have not even had his pads ready and thought Suryakumar Yadav will go out at 3, followed by Tilak Varma at 4 and himself at 5. As soon as they saw the ball move around, Sanju was told to go out at 3. How's that possible, doesn't a batter need a mental make up?" Srikkanth continued.

India’s batting-order changes proved costly as they collapsed for just 125 runs inside 19 overs. Australia comfortably completed the chase in the 14th over with four wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

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