Sanju Samson out of ICC T20 World Cup 2026 plans!! Out of favour India star back in the reckoning

The India National Cricket Team is currently going through a major shake-up in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, and it’s all because of the sensational return of Shubman Gill to the T20I format after more than one year.

Shubman Gill’s comeback has forced the Indian team management to reshuffle their batting order, pushing Sanju Samson down to No. 5.

Sanju Samson was playing as an opener for the last 12 months, but this spot has now been given to Gill, who is now opening alongside Abhishek Sharma in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. Samson is now forced to bat in the middle order, where he hasn’t had much success in the T20Is.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Kris Srikkanth warns Sanju Samson of a do-or-die moment

This move has already raised many eyebrows, and now the former India opener and 1983 World Cup winner, Kris Srikkanth, is not happy with Sanju’s demotion at all.

Srikkanth believes that Samson’s place in India’s T20I team is now more fragile than ever, and he could lose his spot after just a couple of poor games. He boldly suggested that this arrangement is made to make way back for Shreyas Iyer.

Read Also: 'No hype because...': Rashid Latif brutally trolls India for agreeing to face Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, “I would tell Sanju Samson, ‘Careful, Sanju, this is probably a do-or-die chance for you. They might not include you if you do not score. If you underperform for a couple of games, Shreyas Iyer might come in. I think shifting Sanju down the order to No. 5 is probably making way for Shreyas.”

Is Sanju Samson’s India career in trouble?

He pointed out that Gautam Gambhir and the Indian think tank’s call will affect Samson’s game, as his strengths lie in opening. He made 522 runs as India's opener out of his total 861 runs in the T20I format, and even all three of his hundreds have come at the top.

So, Srikkanth feels this sudden change could hit Sanju’s confidence hard. The former Indian chief selector added, “Not sure if I’m right or wrong. But, think about this: Sanju hasn’t played No. 5 in T20s. His confidence might take a hit batting at No. 5, and so I’m not too happy.”

India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad already has two powerful finishers in Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, and they both played against the UAE.

Read Also: "You play hard, but..." - Ajinkya Rahane drops bombshell on Suryakumar Yadav withdrawing appeal against UAE

Kris Srikkanth feels Sanju Samson is just filling the spot

Given that, the former Indian chief selector wondered if Samson is even going to be used as a finisher, or if he is just being fitted in without a clear role.

Srikkanth questioned the role of Samson in India’s playing XI and hinted that he is just being fitted in without a clear role, as he can’t play as a finisher as well.

He further explained, “They (India) are playing Sanju Samson in the middle order. Are they going to use him as the finisher? No. That’ll be Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. So, Samson will play at 5. Will he deliver? That is a question.”

Can Sanju Samson survive till the T20 World Cup 2026?

Samson was preferred over Jitesh Sharma for India’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE, but Srikkanth is worried for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He feels the Indian think tank might have to change its strategy for the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter.

He signed off by saying, “Sanju Samson has been included ahead of Jitesh Sharma, which is fine for the Asia Cup. But what happens at the T20 World Cup?”