Kris Srikkanth questions Team India’s strategy to change Sanju Samson’s batting position in 2nd T20I against Australia

Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth believes team’s think tank is spoiling Sanju Samson’s confidence by constantly moving his place in the batting order. Samson, who has been batting at number five in the recent past, was promoted to number three in the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Samson was plumbed in front of the wickets by Nathan Ellis for two runs as he could not make the most of his promotion. Earlier, Samson was opening with Abhishek Sharma but was moved to the middle order after Shubman Gill was appointed the team’s vice-captain.

Meanwhile, India was bundled out for 125 runs after they were put into bat by Mitchell Marsh as none of the batters, barring Abhishek Sharma, could get going and the visitors suffered a four-wicket loss.

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “I don’t understand what they are doing with Sanju Samson. He bats at 5 one game then suddenly at 4, 6, 7 or 8. And this match he bats at 3. That is not fair, you’ve to give a fixed position. Mentally, only then a batsman can make up his mind. You can’t just keep shuffling the batting order. You are spoiling that boy’s confidence, which is not fair.”

The 1983 World Cup-winning player added that sending Samson at one drop was a knee-jerk reaction from the team management.

“Sending him at No. 3 was a knee-jerk reaction. They sent him there once the ball was moving around and he also couldn’t do anything. You are spoiling the balance of the team, forget about the individual. Just because there was some zip in the wicket, you sent Sanju out to bat and he got out immediately,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

The former Indian batter believes Samson might not have been even ready to bat at number three after Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply.

“He must have not even had his pads ready and thought Suryakumar Yadav will go out at 3, followed by Tilak Varma at 4 and himself at 5. As soon as they saw the ball move around, Sanju was told to go out at 3. How’s that possible, doesn’t a batter need a mental make up?”

The third T20I between India and Australia will be played at Hobart on Sunday.