Sanju Samson’s T20I strike rate drops from 145 as opener to 124 in middle order; is he best suited there?
When India announced their 15-member squad for Asia Cup 2025, the concern was around Sanju Samson’s batting position. Once the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, confirmed Shubman Gill to open the batting with Abhishek Sharma, everyone was worried about Samson. The wicket-keeper batter decided to bat in the middle order during the Kerala Premier League (KPL) 2025.
However, after a few low scores, he went back to the top order. The interesting part was his practice against spinners during India’s initial net sessions in Dubai. But their captain, Suryakumar Yadav, had other plans. The management decided to slot Samson at number five. That was a googly to most of the pundits who went with Jitesh Sharma in the middle order.
However, even two weeks later, the anxious batting of the 30-year-old continued. The right-handed batter has overall smacked 7698 T20 runs in 293 innings at an average of under 30. His career strike rate is of 136.73 with six centuries and 73 half-centuries at the best score of 119.
Sanju Samson’s massive gulf between top and middle order in T20s
In the Asia Cup 2025, Samson has gathered only 69 runs. Out of those, a scratchy knock of 56 runs came against Oman in Abu Dhabi. Two days later, he couldn’t put the bat on the ball against Pakistan in the Super 4 clash.
There is a huge difference between the top order and middle order batting. From smashing the ball without any pressure to hold the innings against the spinners requires a different skillset. And Samson’s numbers are a huge proof of that.
In the top order (1-3), the veteran has clubbed 4789 T20 runs in 153 innings. His average of 35 goes up by nearly five, while the career strike rate of 136.78 flies high to 144.80. This is where he met success for the Blue Brigade in the last few months and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
Read More: Asia Cup 2025: Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma: Who makes the cut in India’s XI?
Sanju Samson’s batting comparison in top and middle order
However, towards the start of his career, Samson used to bat in the middle order (4-7). In that position, he has recorded 1150 T20 runs in 68 innings. The average of 19.20 is much lower than his career average, while it’s the same story with the strike rate. The RR captain celebrated a T20 fifty only thrice in that position.
In this Asia Cup 2025, Samson has been slotted to bat at number 5, where he doesn’t have inspiring numbers. In nine innings, he has smacked 109 T20 runs at an average of 15.6 and a strike rate of 122.5, with the best score of 30.
Sanju Samson lacks clear mindset in the middle order of T20s
During India’s last group-stage clash against Oman, the management decided to send Samson at number three. The aim was to give him ample time in the middle. However, in the first seven balls, he managed only one run before releasing the pressure with a six towards the cow corner. He nailed another six during the seventh over straight down the ground, but was still missing the timing.
He celebrated his fifty in 41 balls, which isn’t a special record in the modern T20 era. And he made it worse by getting out the very next over for 56 runs in 45 balls. Three boundaries and three sixes meant he ran only 26 runs in 39 deliveries. And that’s exactly what he can’t do in the middle order, which is his actual role in this competition.
Against Pakistan, it was the same situation. Samson drove Faheem Ashraf through the wide of the cover for a beautiful boundary. But in between, there was no cricketing shot as he couldn’t handle Haris Rauf’s pace and got out for 13 runs in 17 deliveries. India’s assistant coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, accepted the batter’s struggles but confirmed to give a long rope.
“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. 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 told the reporters in the pre-match press conference before the Bangladesh game.
That was perhaps a message to the wicket-keeper batter ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 at home. In the IPL, he has been hesitant to leave the top order. But now, for the next few T20Is before the World Cup, he would need to focus only on the middle order batting. Or else, the management needs to change their plan.
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