Former India batter Robin Uthappa has raised a question as to why the opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson were replaced.
Speaking on Star Sports, Uthappa said: “I beg the question: what did the partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson do so grossly wrong that they had to be replaced? I understand Surya in the pre-series conference where he said Shubman has actually been in the T20 squad before Sanju got his opportunity. But when Sanju did get his opportunity, he got three hundreds.”
Samson was in terrific form in T20Is in 2024 as he scored three centuries, but when Shubman Gill was brought back to the side in 2025 and made the vice-captain, Samson lost his opening slot.
He was pushed down the order, and in the ongoing series against South Africa he did not feature in the playing XI. However, Gill has failed to impress since his return, and he has not scored a single fifty.
The 25-year-old’s poor form in T20Is is continuing in the ongoing series against South Africa with scores of four and zero.
Uthappa emphasised that Samson deserves more opportunities.
“So you have a proven opener, who’s averaging just below Abhishek Sharma at this point, and you decided to move him to the middle order and then slowly leave him out. What wrong has he done? is my question. He deserves to have that opportunity.” he said.
For the latest sports news follow- Revsportz
