T20 WC: Ex Indian star believes Sanju should be in 11 against Pakistan

Cricket: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has weighed in on the Indian team’s combination ahead of their upcoming T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, suggesting a possible reshuffle in the batting order.

Kaif opined that Sanju Samson could be deployed in the middle order if Abhishek Sharma returns to the playing XI for the high-voltage encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15. In his YouTube channel, he further suggested that Rinku Singh might have to make way should the team management decide to bring Abhishek back into the side.

“The kind of start Sanju gave, he made 22 off eight balls. That means he played very aggressively. So I feel, can Sanju be adjusted somewhere in the lineup? Let Abhishek Sharma open. Fine. But can you bring Sanju in place of Rinku? Of course, Rinku has not played much in World Cups, only two matches. He is a good player, there is no doubt about that. He is a very good player. But Sanju is an experienced batter and has also captained a lot. So I wonder, can you fit Sanju in place of Rinku?” Kaif said in a live session on his channel.

Kaif has suggested a potential reshuffle in India’s batting order to strengthen the side against spin-heavy conditions. Highlighting Sanju Samson’s ability to play spin effectively, Kaif noted that the wicketkeeper-batter had previously batted at No. 5 or 6 during the Asia Cup and was also used in the middle order in a recent match against Pakistan.

He wondered if the Indian team management might consider a similar approach going forward. While acknowledging that Rinku Singh has featured in two matches and is a quality player, Kaif said retaining Sanju in the XI and promoting Abhishek at the top of the order could make the team stronger, particularly on spin-friendly tracks against quality spin attacks.