Shubman Gill’s return to India’s T20I squad for the ongoing Asia Cup has brought about a significant reshuffle in the batting order. With Gill resuming his place as opener alongside the in-form Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson has been pushed down to No. 5, a role he has rarely played in his T20I career.

Former India opener and 1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth, however, is not convinced by the move. He believes Samson’s position is now under serious scrutiny, warning that the wicketkeeper-batter could be just a couple of failures away from losing his place in the XI.

“This is a do-or-die opportunity for Sanju Samson. If he doesn’t perform in the next few games, the management might look at Shreyas Iyer. Samson has not been tested much at No. 5, and this could dent his confidence,” Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

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The statistics back Srikkanth’s concern. Of Samson’s 861 runs in T20Is, 522 have come while opening, including all three of his centuries. However, his contributions lower down the order have been minimal, raising doubts about his adaptability.

Kris Srikkanth also questioned the clarity of Samson’s role in the middle order, especially since the finishing duties are already assigned to Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. “Where exactly will Samson fit in? He isn’t going to be the finisher. So, if he bats at No. 5, the big question is whether he can deliver consistently,” he noted.

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The debate becomes more pressing with the T20 World Cup around the corner. For now, Samson has edged ahead of Jitesh Sharma in selection for the Asia Cup. But as Srikkanth highlighted, the long-term picture remains uncertain. “Asia Cup is fine, but what happens when the T20 World Cup comes around?” he asked.