Samson moved to middle order for Asia Cup 2025, Kotak confirms

Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson would be used in the middle order for India during the Asia Cup 2025, a move that has reshaped the team's batting combinations in the tournament held in the United Arab Emirates. Samson was named at number five for India’s tournament opener against the United Arab Emirates on September 10 in Dubai but did not bat as India chased a modest 58. Two days before the high-profile India Pakistan match on September 14, Kotak defended the decision to slot Samson down the order and signalled confidence in the player’s adaptability.

"Sanju has not batted a lot at No. 5 or 6. But that does not mean that he cannot do it," Kotak told reporters. He said captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir believed playing Samson at five or six ahead of Jitesh Sharma was the right call and that Samson was happy to bat wherever required. The selection surprised some observers who had expected Jitesh Sharma to keep wicket regularly, particularly after Shubman Gill’s elevation to vice-captain pushed Samson out of his familiar opening slot.

India’s quick dismissal of the UAE target in 4.3 overs gave little chance...