Wasim Jaffer explains why Sanju Samson should not bat in the middle order for India

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India’s team combination has become a major talking point after Sanju Samson was left out of the playing XI during the ongoing T20I series against England. With discussions around how the wicketkeeper-batter could return to the side, former India opener Wasim Jaffer has shared his thoughts on one idea that he believes should be avoided. According to Jaffer, changing Samson’s batting role would not be the right solution and could affect the overall balance of the lineup.

Jaffer said playing Samson in the middle order simply to accommodate him in the XI would be unfair to the wicketkeeper-batter. He pointed out that India’s batting order already has established players occupying those positions, and forcing Samson into a different role would upset the team’s structure.

“We know what Samson can do in the top order and how destructive he can be. He plays match-winning knocks when he plays well. Just to play him, keeping him in the middle order will be a wrong decision, according to me,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.

He also noted that India’s middle order is largely settled, making it difficult to fit Samson there without disturbing the existing combination.

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Jaffer added that he does not want Samson to fade out of India’s plans despite the growing excitement around Vaibhav Suryavanshi. While acknowledging that the youngster deserves opportunities, he stressed that selections should happen naturally rather than by sidelining an established performer.

He further said frequent changes could create insecurity within the squad, with players feeling they could lose their place despite previous performances. Jaffer believes continuity remains important and that Samson’s contributions for India, including his Player of the Tournament campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup, should not be overlooked.

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