Analysts Say Samson’s Bench Spell Makes Case Stronger for Rishabh Pant in Middle Order

Sanju Samson’s continued omission from India’s T20I playing XI has sparked sharp criticism, with former Kolkata Knight Riders team director Joy Bhattacharjya declaring that the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter is getting “a raw deal” and should either open or be replaced by Rishabh Pant.

Samson, who has smashed three T20I centuries as an opener in the past 18 months and boasts the second-highest strike rate (182.89) among Indian openers since 2023, was once again left out of the XI for Tuesday’s series opener against South Africa, with Jitesh Sharma retained as the finisher-cum-keeper. Since Shubman Gill’s promotion as the designated long-term T20I opener post the 2024 T20 World Cup, Samson has been awkwardly pushed to the middle order—a role in which he has managed only five innings before being repeatedly benched.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Bhattacharjya argued that persisting with Samson as a middle-order backup makes no sense when the management has already locked the opening slot for Gill. “If you’re not going to bat Sanju up the order, then keeping him really doesn’t make sense. You might as well bring in Rishabh Pant, who is used to batting at 4, 5, or 6. Sanju has proven himself as an opener; three centuries don’t lie. If that spot is now Shubman’s, then your second keeper has to be a proper finisher, which is Jitesh. In that case, I’d rather have Pant as the backup keeper than have Sanju batting out of position,” he said.

Also Read: India A Captain Jitesh Sharma Defends Super Over Batting Choice Amid Vaibhav Suryavanshi Snub

Former South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock echoed the sentiment, calling Samson “unfortunate” but pointing out that Gill is now being viewed in the same untouchable bracket as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma once were. “When Virat and Rohit returned from breaks, they walked straight back into their positions. Shubman has earned that status now after his performances, especially in the England Tests. Unfortunately for Sanju, that squeezes the door shut at the top,” Pollock added.

The debate has intensified ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with many fans and analysts questioning why a player in red-hot form as an opener is being forced into an unnatural role or kept on the bench entirely. With India’s middle order already boasting Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, and Axar Patel, Samson’s explosive 400-plus runs at the top appear wasted on the sidelines.

As the five-match series against South Africa progresses, pressure is mounting on captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir to either restore Samson to the opening position or clarify his long-term future, especially with Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings and eager to reclaim his white-ball spot.

Also Read: Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya Back; Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal Left Out of India Squad