Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that Sanju Samson is unlikely to be promoted with the bat in the Asia Cup 2025 match against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday, September 18. He, however, added that Samson might get a chance to bat above Shivam Dube at No. 5 in the last group-stage game as well.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Bangar said: “They will stick to the top four, and after that, you might not witness Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson might come ahead because Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya haven’t had the chance to bat so far. I think they will stick with the same batting till No. 4 because Shubman Gill hasn’t scored big in the first matches. And Tilak got an opportunity in one match.”

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“Yes, India will definitely think about batting first. Try to bat first and give your batters an opportunity because the way they [India] have gotten starts by Abhishek Sharma in both matches… Suryakumar Yadav has batted well, but other batters haven’t got many opportunities. I think if India wins the toss, then they will surely want to bat first. It’s also because the bowlers will get an experience that if there is dew, then they have to bowl with the dew, which can be a factor in the upcoming matches,” he further added.

Sanjay Bangar also urged captain Suryakumar Yadav to continue at No. 3 after his match-winning knock against Pakistan in the last match.

“Surya has batted in both games, but he will want to settle at one place. He might have made up his mind to play at No. 3. So, as a captain, he will try to continue that,” he concluded.