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.

Sanju Samson was opening with Abhishek Sharma in T20 cricket for many time, after which it was believed that he would play in the same position in the Asia Cup. In the last 10 T20 international innings, Sanju Samson scored 3 centuries, although the remaining innings were not very good but he was considered to be a big contender for this position in the Asia Cup. But the thinking of team management is somewhat different. Shubman Gill will now open, although Sanju has started preparations for the new position but he failed in the first attempt.

Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar made it clear at the time of the team announcement that Sanju Samson was opening because Shubman Gill was not in the team, now he has come back. That is, there is every possibility that Gill and Abhishek Sharma will start the innings in the Asia Cup. Tilak Verma will come at number three and Suryakumar Yadav will come at number four. Hardik Pandya can bat at number five, so the number six slot will be vacant for wicket -keeper Samson.

Sanju Samson is preparing the number six

Sanju Samson has also started batting attempts on this sequence (number six). In the fifth match of Kerala Premier League, Sanju Samson batted at number six. Sanju, who was in the Kochi Blue Tigers team, however failed in his first attempt. In this match played on Saturday, he played 22 balls to score 13 runs. He could not hit a single four or six. This performance is not good for Samson preparing for the Asia Cup.

In the first match of Kochi Blue Tigers in Kerala Premier League, Sanju Samson’s batting could not come, but if he got a chance in the second match, he could score just 13 runs in 22 balls. However, both matches have won both matches.

Sanju Samson’s 1st Outing in Kerala Cricket League, He Has Been Discussed for 13 (22).

fancode pic.twitter.com/SBZICW4WL

– Cricketgully (@Thecricketgully) August 23, 2025

In the last 10 T20 international innings, Sanju has scored 3 centuries, of which 2 are against South Africa and one against Bangladesh. But 5 times out of other 7 innings, he could not even touch the double figure, it also includes 2 ‘Duck’.

Indian players involved in Asia Cup squad

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (Vice -captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Akshar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Jaspreet Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.