Former India head coach Ravi Shastri made a huge appreciation of Sanju Samson’s latest form in the T-20 format. He urged the team management to allow the batsman to play within the ‘top-three’. The Asia Cup T-20 will start on 9th September, as India begin their campaign against hosts UAE in Dubai on 10th September.
Sanju Samson has been in inspiring form since he started playing as an opener in 2024, scoring 861 runs in 41 T20Is. The Indian wicketkeeper has scored three T20I hundreds in just 12 innings, maintaining a strike rate of 152.38. However, his performance drops significantly when batting in other positions, with a highest score of only 29 in nine innings.
“Samson is most dangerous in the top three. That is where he can win matches. He should be left there. Samson has a strong record for India at the top in T20s, ” explained Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021. “Samson should continue playing the way he has for India in T20s. He has been consistent at the top with big runs and hundreds,” Shastri added.
Shastri, speaking on the bowling department, said he believes spin will play a crucial role in the upcoming tournament. “Given the conditions in Dubai and the heat, spin will definitely be the flavour of the month. Teams like Afghanistan might even play four spinners. Whether it’s two or three, it depends on balance, but spinners will certainly be in big demand in Dubai. You need both finger spin and wrist spin. India has that luxury, and they’ll all come into play depending on conditions,” the former spin-bowling all-rounder said.
