‘Play Sanju Samson in place of Shivam Dube’ — Parthiv Patel backs India’s batting reshuffle for Bristol T20I

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has called for a change in India’s batting combination for Thursday’s 4th T20I against England, arguing that Sanju Samson must replace Shivam Dube in the playing XI to correct a left-hander imbalance that has cost the visiting side across the series.

The hosts lead the five-match T20I series 2-0 after an emphatic 125-run win at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. In that game, Harshit Rana’s promotion to No. 7 left six left-handers occupying the visitors’ top eight, a combination Patel had flagged as unworkable from the start of the tour.

“I feel he should be played because we have been saying from the first match that you cannot have six left-handers in the top seven, in the top eight (in this game), because Harshit Rana came at No. 7,” he responded during a discussion on JioHotstar.

The former Test stumper acknowledged that Tilak Varma’s standing as vice-captain made him untouchable. Instead, Patel pointed directly at Dube as the player to make way.

“If I keep myself in that dressing room and if I have to make a team, the focus goes on Tilak Varma, but he is India’s vice-captain. So I would want you to play Sanju Samson in place of Shivam Dube. Then the sixth bowling option won’t remain. However, you will go with five out-and-out main bowlers,” Parthiv Patel observed.

The former Indian wicketkeeper also put forward a revised batting order he felt the side could explore, with Samson flexible enough to bat anywhere from No. 3 to the middle order.

“You will have to make Sanju Samson bat in the middle. He can also come at No. 3. Then Ishan Kishan can come in the middle, and Shreyas Iyer can come at No. 5. You can keep Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Shreyas Iyer from Nos. 3 to 5. India can think in that direction,” he said.

Shreyas Iyer’s side needs to win both remaining games to avoid a T20I series defeat on English soil. The 4th T20I takes place on Thursday, July 9, at the County Ground, Bristol, with the fifth and final game at Southampton on Saturday, July 11.