Archive · 6 Nov 2025
Aakash Chopra Slams India Management Over Sanju Samson's Handling
Imagine a cricket team trying to pick players for a big game.
One player, Sanju Samson, is really good and has scored a lot of runs, sometimes even opening the game.
But the coaches keep moving him around in different batting spots and sometimes don't even let him play.
A famous cricket commentator, Aakash Chopra, thinks this is confusing and unfair to Sanju.
He says the coaches aren't explaining why they make these choices.
He also wonders if another player, Jitesh Sharma, who is playing now, will get the same treatment if he doesn't do perfectly.
Aakash wants the coaches to be clear about their plans for Sanju and stick with a decision.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra criticized the team management for their inconsistent handling of Sanju Samson.
Chopra questions Samson's demotion from the opening spot and subsequent exclusion from the playing XI.
Samson has been India's third-highest T20I run-scorer since the last T20 World Cup and has succeeded as an opener.
Chopra finds the management's reasoning for Samson's changing roles and omissions difficult to understand.
The analyst also raised concerns about whether Jitesh Sharma, currently preferred over Samson, will receive consistent backing.
- Who
- Former India opener Aakash Chopra, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Team Management, Shubman Gill
- What
- Criticism of the Indian cricket team management's inconsistent handling and selection decisions regarding wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson.
- When
- Ahead of and during the T20I series against Australia, following the Asia Cup.
- Where
- India's T20 International matches, including Australia tour and Hobart.
- Why
- Aakash Chopra believes the team management has not been clear or consistent in their approach to Sanju Samson's role and selection, despite his good performances.
Aakash Chopra's Criticism
Team Management's Approach
Sanju Samson's Batting Position
Aakash Chopra's Criticism
Chopra questions the inconsistent batting positions for Sanju Samson, particularly his demotion from the opening spot and subsequent exclusion from the XI, despite decent performances and a fifty against Oman.
Team Management's Approach
The management moved Samson down the order, stating he could bat lower, and then dropped him, a decision Chopra finds inexplicable.
Selection Logic and Consistency
Aakash Chopra's Criticism
Chopra is bewildered by the team management's choices, highlighting Samson's strong T20I run-scoring record and success as an opener, and questioning the rationale behind his frequent changes in role and team status.
Team Management's Approach
The management prioritized winning, as seen in the Asia Cup victory, and made tactical decisions like batting Samson at No. 3 in Melbourne, even if he was later dropped.
Player Support for Jitesh Sharma
Aakash Chopra's Criticism
Chopra questions whether Jitesh Sharma, who has been preferred over Samson, will receive the same level of backing and consistent selection if his form dips.
Team Management's Approach
Jitesh Sharma has performed decently in his opportunities, and the team has won when he has played, suggesting a level of trust from the management.
- Player Performance
- Sanju Samson is India's third-highest run-scorer in T20Is since the last T20 World Cup and scored three hundreds in the previous calendar year.
- Recent Batting Order
- Samson batted at No. 3 in Melbourne and was later dropped; Jitesh Sharma has been playing in the lower-middle order.
- Analyst's Concern
- Aakash Chopra is critical of the team management's muddled handling and inconsistent selection of Sanju Samson.
- Match Context
- India's win in Hobart against Australia where Jitesh Sharma played a cameo.
Sources
Sanju Samson For Tristan Stubbs Trade Deal Cannot Happen; Aakash Chopra's Big Prediction Ahead of IPL Retention Deadline
IPL 2026 Retained And Released Players LIVE Updates: Will Ishan Kishan Return To Mumbai Indians?
