Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the Indian team management for what he described as “serious blunders” in handling the role of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson during the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Despite India winning the tournament, Manjrekar questioned certain tactical decisions made by captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, particularly concerning Samson’s batting position and his temporary exclusion from the playing XI.

Debate Over Samson’s Batting Role

Speaking in a video shared on social media, Manjrekar pointed out that Samson had been in outstanding form prior to the tournament and had even scored three T20I centuries in five innings, including strong performances against the South Africa national cricket team.

However, the management decided to move him down the batting order and later drop him from the playing XI to accommodate Shubman Gill at the top of the order.

Manjrekar questioned the logic behind the move, noting that Gill’s recall to the T20 side appeared to be influenced by his excellent performance in Test cricket during the England tour.

According to Manjrekar, shifting Samson from his established opening role disrupted his rhythm and affected his consistency.

Impact on Samson’s Form

The former cricketer said the changes in batting position during tournaments like the Asia Cup led to Samson losing momentum. As a result, he eventually found himself out of the playing XI shortly before the World Cup began.

Manjrekar suggested that such frequent adjustments can impact a player’s confidence and match rhythm.

Opportunity Leads to Comeback

Samson eventually returned to the team during the tournament after the absence of Rinku Singh in one of the matches.

With adjustments in the batting lineup—where Tilak Varma was moved down the order and Ishan Kishan took the No. 3 spot—Samson was given another opportunity to open the innings.

Manjrekar noted that the position at the top of the order was where Samson had been most effective and arguably should have retained from the beginning.

Samson’s Match-Winning Performances

Samson made the most of his opportunity, delivering exceptional performances in the final stages of the tournament.

He scored 97 not out, 89, and 89 in India’s last three matches and was eventually named Player of the Tournament.

Although he played only five matches in the competition, Samson finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 321 runs, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 199.37.

His performances played a crucial role in helping India secure the T20 World Cup title.

Summary

Sanjay Manjrekar criticised the Indian team management for mishandling Sanju Samson’s batting role despite India’s T20 World Cup triumph. He argued that shifting Samson from the opening position and dropping him from the playing XI disrupted his form. However, Samson later returned to the team and delivered outstanding performances, including three crucial knocks in the final stages of the tournament, eventually finishing as the Player of the Tournament.

Disclaimer

This article is based on publicly available information and official statements. The content is intended for informational purposes only. The publication does not independently verify third-party claims or assertions mentioned in the developments.