Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has expressed concerns regarding the inconsistent batting position of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson within the Indian T20 team. Following Samson’s disappointing performance in the second T20I against Australia, where he was dismissed LBW to Nathan Ellis after being promoted to the number three spot, Pathan criticized the Indian management for their ongoing experimentation with the player’s batting order.
While acknowledging the importance of flexibility in T20 cricket, Pathan emphasized the need for stability, stating that constant repositioning might hinder a player’s performance. He remarked on his YouTube channel, “If he keeps moving up and down the batting order like this, I’m not sure how effective that will be.” He highlighted that in T20 formats, apart from openers, players usually don’t have fixed positions, yet he cautioned against becoming overly flexible to the point of losing the benefits of defined roles.
Pathan pointed out that frequently altering a player’s role complicates their ability to adapt, as different positions necessitate distinct mental approaches and strategies. For example, Samson had a successful stint as an opener after the T20 World Cup 2024, where he scored three centuries. However, with Shubman Gill’s return to the T20 setup, he was repositioned lower down the order during the Asia Cup 2025, which requires a different skill set and mindset.
In his comments, Pathan also warned that while Samson has the support of both the captain and coach, this backing could vanish if he continues to squander opportunities. He stated, “There’s no doubt he’s getting the support he needs. But that support can fade quickly if a player has three or four failures in a row. Hopefully, that won’t happen with Sanju Samson.”
The sentiments expressed by Pathan reflect a broader concern among cricket analysts regarding the delicate balance between flexibility and stability in a player’s role, especially in a fast-paced format like T20. This cautionary note could serve as a wake-up call not just for Samson, but also for the Indian management to consider the implications of their strategic decisions moving forward.