Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stated two reasons why wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is finding it difficult to secure a place in the Indian team in T20Is after the Kerala-born cricketer was not given a chance in the playing XI against South Africa in the first T20I of the five-match series in Cuttack.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: “There was a lot of talk before the game that Sanju should play, and why is he not being played, and all that. Whenever Sanju is dropped from the team, there is always a discussion, the question of whether he got a fair run, and all that. The moment Shubman Gill came into the side, and as a vice-captain, Sanju was always going to find it difficult to get into the XI.”
Gill was brought back to the Indian T20I set-up after more than a year in September 2025, having played his last T20I in July 2024, and immediately he was made the vice-captain. It was almost certain that he was going to get the chance in the top order. Before that, Samson had a decent run in the top order, scoring three hundreds in a span of a year. However, he lost his place to Gill.
Ashwin explained another reason for Samson’s omission and suggested that he should be played at No. 3 for best results.
“Sanju has not played enough at No. 5, and Jitesh Sharma is there in the squad for his finishing abilities. That was the role he played for RCB, so it was always going to be difficult for Sanju. If you are playing Sanju, play him at No. 3, use him against spin,” he added.
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