India’s stylish batter Sanju Samson appears to be slipping out of the team’s T20I plans, with former cricketer Mohammad Kaif revealing that the management’s focus on grooming Shubman Gill as a future captain has led to Samson being overshadowed. Samson, who featured in the opening two T20Is against Australia, was replaced by Jitesh Sharma for the next two matches in the ongoing five-match series.

Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, said the team’s selection decisions make sense given the long-term vision of developing leadership options. “If Shubman Gill was not there in the team, then Sanju Samson would have played. Since Gill has come in as vice-captain, he plays all the matches. When choosing between Samson and Jitesh for the middle order, they feel Jitesh is better suited for number five or six since he bats in that position in the IPL,” Kaif explained.

Gill, who already leads India in Test and ODI cricket, has been given a leadership role in the T20 setup as well, suggesting a clear roadmap for the future. Kaif added that Samson’s absence from the playing XI was not due to performance but rather because of positional preferences within the squad. “Sanju’s record is excellent, with a strike rate of around 150, but they are backing players who match the batting order requirements,” he remarked.

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Despite the selection debate, India’s T20 side continues to perform strongly against Australia. After losing the second match, India bounced back with victories in Hobart and Queensland to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The final encounter is set to take place at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 8, where the focus will again be on the team’s balance and experimentation ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

As discussions over Samson’s role deepen, fans and experts continue to debate whether the talented wicketkeeper-batter deserves a longer run. While team strategy appears to favor Shubman Gill’s rise, many believe Samson’s explosive batting talent and IPL experience still warrant a significant place in India’s future T20 plans.

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