Sanju Samson has always been recognised as one of the most naturally gifted stroke makers of India. His elegance, ability to clear the boundary and quick scoring have earned him admiration but he has often struggled for consistency at the international level. The Asia Cup gives him another chance to prove that he can turn talent into performance, especially in pressure situations.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma are likely to occupy the No. 3 and No. 4 positions in the batting order. This decision pushes Sanju Samson into the No. 5 role, a position where he has looked slightly unsettled. His recent innings against Pakistan, where he scored 13 runs from 17 balls, underlined the challenges he faces in pacing his knock lower down the order.
Ryan ten Doeschate admitted that Sanju Samson is still working on how to handle the demands of this role but expressed confidence that he is the right choice. With Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma providing solid starts, followed by the captain and Tilak in the middle, the team needs someone dependable to anchor at No. 5. According to the coach, Sanju Samson has the required qualities and will grow into the responsibility with time.
Looking ahead to the clash with Bangladesh, the assistant coach spoke about the team’s approach of respecting every opponent while not being intimidated by any. He admitted that the side was not fully satisfied with its show against Pakistan, calling the performance scrappy despite the result. To address this, the players held a meeting to focus on areas of improvement and to ensure greater sharpness.
He emphasised that India’s aim is to concentrate on its own process and maintain consistency, no matter who the opposition is. Against Bangladesh, the message remains the same, i.e., put the best foot forward, play with discipline and strive for a complete performance.
All the best, team India!
