Sanju Samson was not sent to bat in the Super-4 match of Asia Cup 2025 against Bangladesh, while Team India was received by Team India as Hardik Pandya on the last ball. Samson was placed at number 8, Shivam Dubey was sent to number three but he was able to score only 2 runs. Tilak Verma came at number five, he was also a flop (5 runs). Whereas in the press conference before the match, assistant coach Ryan Ten Doshet had assured that Samson is being seen at number five.

For the last one year, Sanju Samson was starting the innings at T20 International, as an opener, he also scored 3 centuries in 12 innings. However, after the return of Shubman Gill, Samson was not selected as an opener in the Asia Cup 2025. Batting at number three against Oman, he scored a half -century, after which he was sent to number five against Pakistan.

What did the assistant coach say about Sanju Samson’s batting position?

Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doshet had said before the match against Bangladesh, “There are 2 matches left, two good opportunities and he is still trying to understand how to play this role (batting at number 5). Captains are batting at number three, we are looking for the fifth number batsman and we believe that Sanju is suitable for this.

Former cricketer targeted

Former Indian cricketer Doda Ganesh did not like to keep Sanju at number 8. He tweeted a target at this. He wrote, “No cricket can be logic to place Sanju Samson at number eight. It is absolutely unacceptable.”

Sanju samson at no 8 defies any cricketing logic. It’s simply unacceptable #ASIACUP

– Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) September 24, 2025

Talking about the match against Bangladesh, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill batted in the powerplay, both added 77 runs for the first wicket. Gill was dismissed in the seventh over after scoring 29 runs. Everyone was surprised when neither captain Suryakumar Yadav nor Tilak Verma, Shivam Dubey were sent to this position. Dubey was dismissed for 2 runs in 3 balls.

After this, Suryakumar Yadav came, who flopped once again. He was dismissed for 5 runs, Tilak Verma, who came at number six, also returned to the pavilion after scoring the same number of runs. Akshar Patel was sent before Sanju Samson, he was not out but played 15 balls to score 10 runs. The letters were seen struggling, it seemed at a time that the team would form up to 200, but the team could only score 168 runs. In response, Bangladesh was all out at 127 and India won the match by 41 runs and made it to the final of the Asia Cup 2025.