'No matter what': Former India batter backs Samson to open in T20 World Cup
"Sanju Samson should be a starter in the T20 World Cup eleven, no matter what. And I will tell you why. So Sanju Samson is amongst the hundred makers post T20 World Cup 2024. In South Africa, he got back-to-back hundreds and then Bangladesh. (He) Motivated young stars who also put their hands up – if Sanju can score one hundred, I could score as well," Uthappa said.
Sanju Samson bats during the Asia Cup cricket final between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates. (Photo/PTI)
Former India batter Robin Uthappa has said that Sanju Samson should open the batting for India in the T20 World Cup 2026, insisting that he must be part of the playing XI at the top of the order."Sanju Samson should be a starter in the T20 World Cup eleven, no matter what. And I will tell you why. So Sanju Samson is amongst the hundred makers post T20 World Cup 2024. In South Africa, he got back-to-back hundreds and then Bangladesh. (He) Motivated young stars who also put their hands up – if Sanju can score one hundred, I could score as well," Uthappa said.
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The former India wicketkeeper-batter questioned the decision to move away from Samson’s opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma.
"For me, secondly, what wrong did the opening partnership of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma do for them to get broken? It was a working partnership. Because of his versatile nature as a batsman, Sanju can bring stability to the playing combination along with his brilliance in leading a team, so he knows how to react under tough circumstances," he added in a video posted on his Instagram profile.
Uthappa said Samson also brings balance to the side and cited his performances in pressure situations.
"The third reason that he brings a lot of balance into the side. We saw him absorb pressure in the Asia cup in the finals along with Tilak Verma and build that important partnership. But I still think if you're playing Sanju Samson, he has to bat either 1, 2 or 3, not below that,” he said.Samson has been named in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup next year. Ishan Kishan has been picked as the second wicketkeeper-batter in the squad, with Samson set to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma.The squad was announced by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia at the board’s headquarters last Saturday in the presence of captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.Shubman Gill was left out of the squad amid concerns over fitness and form. Gill missed the fifth and final T20I against South Africa due to a foot injury sustained before the fourth T20I, which was abandoned due to fog. Since returning to the T20 side during the Asia Cup as vice-captain, Gill scored 291 runs in 15 matches and innings at an average of 24.25 and a strike rate of over 137, with no fifties and a highest score of 47.Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have now been most likely confirmed as India’s opening pair, while Rinku Singh has also returned to the national side.