IND vs SA: Sanju Samson deserves a place in the India playing XI?
Robin Uthappa, former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate of Gautam Gambhir, has voiced strong criticism toward Gambhir and the current Indian team management for consistently overlooking Sanju Samson in favour of Shubman Gill in the T20I setup. Samson has not featured in the playing XI since the second T20I against Australia, a decision that has raised questions among fans and several former players. Uthappa expressed disappointment over Samson’s continued exclusion, especially at a time when the wicketkeeper-batter has shown notable improvement and maturity in white-ball cricket.
IND vs SA: Robin Uthappa queries about Sanju Samson's place in the India playing XI
Uthappa further stated that he is unable to understand the logic behind removing Samson from the opening position, a role in which the Kerala cricketer has delivered some of his finest innings. He pointed out that Samson has scored multiple impactful centuries as an opener, showcasing both power and consistency at the top of the order. According to Uthappa, those performances should have cemented Samson’s place rather than pushed him out of the lineup. The former India batter emphasised that constant chopping and changing affects a player’s confidence and rhythm, and he urged the management to show more faith in Samson’s proven capabilities, particularly when his past performances speak strongly in his favour.
"I beg the question: what did the partnership of Abhishek and Samson do so grossly wrong that it had to be replaced? I understand Surya in the pre-series conference where he said Shubman has actually been in the T20I squad before Sanju got his chance. But when Sanju did get his opportunity, he got three tons. He was the first guy among the youngsters to get hundreds in T20 cricket," stated former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa.
Robin Uthappa further sharpened his criticism by openly questioning the team management’s handling of Sanju Samson. He asked what exactly Samson had done wrong to be pushed out of the setup so abruptly, especially when his performances as an opener had been strong and impactful. Uthappa expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding Samson’s exclusion, suggesting that decisions like these can severely affect a player’s confidence and sense of security within the team. He argued that a talented wicketkeeper-batter like Samson deserved a longer, more consistent run in the XI rather than being dropped after just a few opportunities. According to Uthappa, continuity is crucial for players in positions like Samson’s, and the management should have shown more patience and support instead of removing him from the system altogether.
"So, you have a proven opener, who’s averaging just below Abhishek Sharma at this point, and you decided to move him to the middle order and then slowly leave him out. What wrong has he done is my question. He deserves to have that opportunity," Uthappa added.
Shubman Gill, who had missed the second Test and the IND vs SA ODI series due to a nerve-related neck issue, returned directly to the T20I XI once he recovered. However, his comeback has been far from impressive. In the first two T20Is, Gill managed only 4 off 2 balls in Cuttack and followed it up with a first-ball duck in Mullanpur, raising concerns about his form and readiness.
His lean run has sparked widespread discussion about his place in the side, particularly since he is also the vice-captain of the Indian T20I squad. With India aiming to build continuity ahead of major tournaments, both the team and Gill will be hoping for a turnaround in performance. The third T20I, scheduled to be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on December 14, presents a crucial opportunity for Gill to regain rhythm and silence the growing questions surrounding his selection.
