Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the team’s think tank for dropping Sanju Samson in the third T20I against Australia. Jitesh Sharma played in place of Samson and he added the finishing touches in the run-chase of 187 runs.

Samson was promoted to one down in the second T20I but he was plumbed in front of the wickets by Nathan Ellis after scoring only two runs. The Kerala batter was moved down to the middle order during the Asia Cup after Shubman Gill was appointed as the team’s vice-captain. Gill was given the opening slot with Abhishek Sharma but he hasn’t nailed it yet.

“The biggest question that is looming large is – what have we decided about Sanju Samson? Sanju not playing is a big, big, big question as to why we are doing like that. We played Sanju and he had done decently as well. I won’t say he had done extraordinarily, but he was okay. You made him bat up the order against Oman and he scored a fifty,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“You played him in the (Asia Cup) final and he scored a few runs. You only told us that he can bat down the order. We were saying you should make him open only, and if you are not doing that, play Jitesh. That was my original position, but you said you will be able to take care of Sanju Samson and will play him, and you know what you are doing. We respected that,” he added.

The renowned commentator said it is difficult to understand the handling of Sanju Samson by the team management. Samson had scored three centuries as an opener and many feel he deserves his place at the top of the order.

“You played him, the team won the Asia Cup, and we clapped. After that, his batting didn’t come in Canberra. Okay sir, no problems. You sent him at No. 3 in Melbourne. Surprise, but we say okay sir, but then you dropped him. Now I am unable to understand whether I should again say okay sir, because it’s not understandable what we are trying to do,” he said.

Chopra said logically India should play Jitesh Sharma in the fourth T20I.

“So whether Sanju Samson will play or not is a big question, in my opinion. If Jitesh was played and he has performed decently as well, scored 20-odd runs, logic says you will stay with him, but whether you will, I don’t know sir. I don’t have the answer to that question,” Chopra observed.

The fourth T20I between India and Australia will be played on Thursday at the Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast.