“Sanju was always going to find it difficult to get into the XI” - R Ashwin’s bold claim after IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Sanju Samson's exclusion from the playing XI was inevitable after Shubman Gill's return to the T20I setup as vice-captain. The ace opening batter was given the leadership role in the shortest format ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup, which has largely reduced Sanju Samson to feature in an unfamiliar role.

After an ordinary set of performances in the middle order, Samson was dropped from the playing XI midway through the Australian tour. After impressing with his cameos and finishing abilities for India and Baroda, Jitesh Sharma clinched the wicket-keeper spot in the first T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

R Ashwin noted that Sanju Samson does not have a realistic shot to clinch the No.5 spot, but envisions a role for him at No.3 in the batting order.

"There was a lot of talk before the game that Sanju should play, and why is he not being played, and all that. Whenever Sanju is dropped from the team, there is always a discussion, the question of whether he got a fair run, and all that. The moment Shubman Gill came into the side, and as a vice-captain, Sanju was always going to find it difficult to get into the XI," R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"Sanju has not played enough at No.5, and Jitesh Sharma is there in the squad for his finishing abilities. That was the role he played for RCB, so it was always going to be difficult for Sanju. If you are playing Sanju, play him at No.3, use him against spin," Ashwin added.

Jitesh Sharma struck an unbeaten 22 off 13 deliveries in India's win over Australia in Hobart, and stepped up once again with another cameo of 10 runs off five deliveries in Cuttack.

The wicket-keeper was also in fine touch during the group stages of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and also while leading India in the Asia Cup Rising Stars.

"I feel like he is supremely confident" - R Ashwin hails Hardik Pandya's rescue act in IND vs SA 2025 1st T20I

After a short layoff due to the injury he sustained during the 2025 Asia Cup Super 4 stage against Sri Lanka, Hardik Pandya returned with a stellar knock in the SMAT campaign, before translating the form in national colors as well.

Coming into bat at 78-4 in the 12th over, the all-rounder turned the game around with his explosive fifty. He remained unbeaten on 59 runs off 28 deliveries to steer India to a healthy total of 175-6.

"India were five down for literally nothing, from there they were able to score freely and get 170 plus. Hardik Pandya played a brilliant knock, it did not seem like he went anywhere from the injury. Looked in pristine form, but South Africa did not have enough ammunition in their bank to restrict India," Ashwin said.

"The power that Hardik Pandya has, especially against spin. That bat swing is something that I would trade anything for. After watching his innings, I feel like he is supremely confident. He is not thinking about how many wickets have fallen, how much his score is, and all that. The ball is there to hit, he is hitting it. He is very clear in the head, and he is very confident of the way he is batting. There is no replacement for Hardik in India at this point of time, and I hope we can really find one," Ashwin said of his former teammate.

Hardik Pandya also made an impression with the ball after striking off his very first ball to dismiss David Miller in the eighth over. He finished with figures of 1-16 off his two overs as the Proteas were bundled out for just 74 runs in the chase.