"I want to see if India will give Samson a chance at 3" - Indian legend's huge statement on combination ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I

India legend Ravichandran Ashwin made a massive statement on the combination for the Men in Blue ahead of the T20I series against South Africa. They are set to host the Proteas for five games beginning Tuesday, December 9.

Ashwin brought up the possibility of India playing Sanju Samson at number three. Samson played a game at number three in the Australia T20Is. However, with Shubman Gill coming into the side, he lost his spot in the top order with Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma present as well.

The spin legend expressed that it would be interesting to see how the hosts would give role clarity to players in this series, keeping the 2026 T20 World Cup in mind.

"I want to see if India will give Samson a chance at three, or will they go with Suryakumar and Tilak at three and four. They tried to use Sanju here in Australia. The template had to be changed for Gill came in. Sanju was opening and giving that keeping option. Now that the opening batter and keeper has gone, you are having to accommodate a keeper and finisher down the order. I will be looking forward from India's perspective, if we are giving role clarity to batters," he said on 'Ash ki Baat'.

He also reckoned that it would be interesting to see whether the South African batters could match up to Indian bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah. Ashwin stressed that it would be an important series for the Men in Blue to sort their potential playing XI, batting positions, and have some clarity ahead of the World Cup.

"I am very keen to watch this T20 series. South Africa is one team that can match us in batting power. I also want to see if they can be real contenders going into the World Cup, looking at their bowling. I don't see much bowling teeth. Whether they can match up to Kuldeep, Varun, and Bumrah throughout the series will give us a fair idea. It is an important series for India as well, because they have to finalise their XI and batting positions and role clarities. We have experimented a lot. We will need some stability," he added.

The first T20I will be played at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad are the venues for the other four matches.

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Ashwin on India's bowling attack for the South Africa T20Is

Ashwin also specifically spoke about India's bowling attack and the bowlers who he felt should start the series. He called for more continuity when it came to Arshdeep Singh and accommodating both Varun and Kuldeep. The spin legend felt that the hosts must start with these three, along with Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

"I want to see continuity and role clarity with Arshdeep. I don't see a reason to drop him. He should not be dropped. Can they accommodate both Varun and Kuldeep? I feel it is important to do so. If there is dew only then you can look at a third seamer. I feel we have to go with a good bowling attack. Bumrah, Arshdeep, Varun, Kuldeep, and Hardik Pandya. These bowlers can always help us restrict the opponent to lesser than par scores and they can also defend. I would love to see this attack starting off," he said.

Further, he also advised the Men in Blue not to expose Varun too much, as they could potentially face South Africa in the T20 World Cup as well.

"We must not overexpose Varun Chakaravarthy. We are playing a team that we could face in the T20 World Cup. So his mystery must remain. Exposing both him and Kuldeep in large quantities is something I will refrain from. Give Varun ample opportunity, but also not enough time for South Africa to figure him out," he reflected.

Varun has played 29 T20Is and has bagged 45 wickets at an average of 15.68 and an economy of 6.88.