“You are spoiling that boy’s confidence” - India’s World Cup winner makes huge statement on Sanju Samson after AUS vs IND 2025 2nd T20I

Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth slammed the team management for constantly moving Sanju Samson around the batting order after the second T20I against Australia in Melbourne. Samson batted at No. 3 in the contest after the early loss of Shubman Gill.

However, he was undone by the challenging batting conditions and got trapped LBW for just two off four deliveries. Samson thrived as India's T20I opener since the middle of last year until before the recent Asia Cup in the UAE.

Yet, with the inclusion of Shubman Gill, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter has moved around the middle-order.

Talking about the same on his YouTube channel after the Melbourne T20I, Srikkanth said (11:12):

"I don't understand what they are doing with Sanju Samson. He bats at 5 one game then suddenly at 4, 6, 7 or 8. And this match he bats at 3. That is not fair, you've to give a fixed position. Mentally, only then a batsman can make up his mind. You can't just keep shuffling the batting order. You are spoiling that boy's confidence, which is not fair."

Samson has struggled since moving out of the opening position from the Asia Cup, averaging under 27 with a lone half-century in five innings.

"Sending him at No. 3 was a knee-jerk reaction" - Kris Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth believes sending Sanju Samson to bat at No.3 in the second Australian T20I was a knee-jerk reaction to the seaming and bouncy conditions. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav had batted at one-drop in the series opener, where India reached a healthy 97/1 in the 10th over before rain washed away the rest of the contest.

"Sending him at No. 3 was a knee-jerk reaction. They sent him there once the ball was moving around and he also couldn't do anything. You are spoiling the balance of the team, forget about the individual. Just because there was some zip in the wicket, you sent Sanju out to bat and he got out immediately," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

The former captain continued:

"He must have not even had his pads ready and thought Suryakumar Yadav will go out at 3, followed by Tilak Varma at 4 and himself at 5. As soon as they saw the ball move around, Sanju was told to go out at 3. How's that possible, doesn't a batter need a mental make up?"

The several changes to the batting order backfired as India folded for a paltry 125 in the 19th over. Australia faced little trouble in completing the run chase in the 14th over with four wickets to spare.