IND vs BAN: Suryakumar Yadav confirms Sanju Samson's new role for T20I series

India vs Bangladesh: T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed India's openers for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and explained the new role of Sanju Samson.

In Short

• Sanju Samson to open with Abhishek Sharma in T20I series vs Bangladesh
• Samson had previously opened the batting for India in five appearances
• This series is a chance for Samson to secure his spot in the T20I squad

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed Sanju Samson's new role as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma ahead of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Samson, who has been in and out of the national side since his debut in 2015, is set to open the innings for the entire T20I series, a rare occurrence for the talented wicketkeeper-batter.

The decision to promote Samson to the top of the order came as India's squad for the Bangladesh T20Is includes only one designated opener in Abhishek Sharma. Samson, despite limited success as an opener for India, brings experience from his IPL stints with the Rajasthan Royals, where he has been known to attack powerplay bowlers with his wide range of strokes.

"Sanju Samson will play and open the batting in this series, going forward with Abhishek Sharma," Suryakumar Yadav said during the pre-match press conference in Gwalior. This announcement highlights the team's trust in Samson, especially as India looks to experiment with combinations ahead of future major tournaments like the T20 World Cup.

Samson had previously opened the batting for India in just five of his 30 T20I appearances, with mixed results. His most notable knock came against Ireland in 2022, where he scored 77 runs. However, his ability to play freely in the powerplay, as demonstrated in his early IPL days, suggests that this new role could unlock his potential in international cricket.

These three matches against Bangladesh provide a crucial opportunity for Samson to solidify his position in the T20I squad. With Rishabh Pant being rested after a packed season of cricket, Samson has been handed the role of India's first-choice wicketkeeper for this series, further underscoring the confidence the management has in him.

For Samson, this series could mark a turning point as he looks to cement his place in India's T20 setup, with the next T20 World Cup still two years away. A consistent performance as both an opener and wicketkeeper could put him in strong contention for future selections in India's white-ball formats.

The series opener is scheduled to take place in Gwalior, where all eyes will be on Samson as he takes on the challenge of the new role.