India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate backed Sanju Samson after the batter failed to perform during the team's last outing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. Samson, who was promoted as an opener after Rohit Sharma's T20I retirement, is featuring as a middle-order batter in the continental tournament as Shubman Gill made his comeback in the shortest format of the game.
Samson, who smashed three centuries as an opener in T20Is, was pushed to No. 3 for the inconsequential game against Oman and hit a scratchy half-century before going back to No. 5 for the clash versus Pakistan. He made 13 off 17 balls before a heave across the line against Haris Rauf clattered his stumps.
Ahead of India's Asia Cup 2025 second Super Four clash against Bangladesh, which will take place on September 24, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the management believes Samson is the right man to play in the middle-order.
Doeschate, who is now an integral part of Gautam Gambhir’s support staff, acknowledged that Samson will require time and backing to succeed in the new position, having spent most of his career opening the batting.
“Yeah, I think he has had two decent chances. And I think he is still figuring out how to play that role. I think the wicket also got a little bit tired in the Pakistan game,” Ten Doeschate said.
“But certainly with the way Shubman and Abi are going at the top, and with your captain batting at No. 3, and the way Tilak has played, we are looking for a No. 5. We believe Sanju is the best man for the job. I have no doubt he will figure out how to play that role in the future,” Ten Doeschate added.
Samson has an average of nearly 40 as an opener in the last two years, but in more than 15 innings in the middle order, he managed to smash just one fifty-plus score. Even in the IPL, he has largely featured in the top four for Rajasthan Royals, making this role an unfamiliar challenge.