Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Parthiv Patel believes Sanju Samson should play in India’s playing XI in the fourth T20I against England as the visitors have six left-handers in their top seven. In the absence of Samson, only Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer bats right-handed in the top seven.

Meanwhile, Samson was dropped after the first T20I against England when he could only manage a solitary run. Samson had returned with scores of 5, and 0 in the two T20Is against Ireland.

“I feel he should be played because we have been saying from the first match that you cannot have six left-handers in the top seven, in the top eight (in this game), because Harshit Rana came at No. 7,” Parthiv Patel said on JioHotstar.

Patel said Sanju Samson might not replace Tilak Varma, who is the team’s vice-captain and reckons Shivam Dube might have to may way for the Kerala batter.

“If I keep myself in that dressing room and if I have to make a team, the focus goes on Tilak Varma, but he is India’s vice-captain. So I would want you to play Sanju Samson in place of Shivam Dube. Then the sixth bowling option won’t remain. However, you will go with five out-and-out main bowlers,” Parthiv observed.

The former Gujarat captain reckons the trio of Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer can bat from number three to five.

“You will have to make Sanju Samson bat in the middle. He can also come at No. 3. Then Ishan Kishan can come in the middle, and Shreyas Iyer can come at No. 5. You can keep Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Shreyas Iyer from Nos. 3 to 5. India can think in that direction,” he said.

The fourth T20I between England and India will be played at Bristol, County Ground on Thursday.