Former cricketer urges India to use Sanju Samson at No. 3 or 4 against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2025
Ex-India selector Saba Karim believes Sanju Samson should bat at No. 3 or 4 in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka, stressing the importance of India’s middle order.
Sanju Samson (Image | BCCI on X)
Last Updated: 05.16 PM, Sep 26, 2025
With India preparing for a high-stakes Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025, former cricketer Saba Karim has voiced his opinion on how the team should manage its batting order. He specifically pointed to Sanju Samson’s role, insisting that the wicketkeeper-batter must feature at No. 3 or No. 4, and not be pushed down into the lower order.
Samson has shown flashes of brilliance in the tournament but hasn’t yet produced a defining knock. At No. 3 against Oman, he played fluently, while a move down the order against Pakistan limited his impact. Karim feels such experiments do not allow Samson to settle into a role, particularly since his natural game is best suited to the top order.
According to Karim, once India’s openers are fixed, the team needs a stabilizer-cum-enforcer in the early middle order, a spot where Samson can maximize his shot-making ability. In his view, batting Samson at No. 5 or lower diminishes his value, especially in crunch matches where the tempo is set in the first half of the innings.
"It's a very good thing that Sanju Samson is getting a chance to play. Where should he play? I feel he should play up the order. You have decided your opening pair. So he should play either at No. 3 or No. 4," Saba Karim said on Sony Sports."He doesn't have a place below that. If you have decided that he has to play because he is the only wicketkeeper-batter in your XI, No. 3 or No. 4, in my opinion."
India’s middle order remains under the scanner
Beyond Samson, Karim expressed worry about India’s overall middle-order output. In the previous match, India fell short of a par score despite a decent start, highlighting inconsistency from positions three to six. For a side aiming to dominate Asia Cup 2025, Karim believes India must consistently aim for scores around the 190–200 mark.
He further suggested that if India wins the toss against Sri Lanka, they should consider batting first. Setting a target, in his opinion, would relieve some pressure from the middle order and allow the bowlers to control proceedings.
Karim also noted that Jasprit Bumrah’s return could provide India with a huge boost, as his pace and control are crucial in Super 4 games. With both batting clarity and bowling balance on the agenda, the clash against Sri Lanka is shaping up as a test of India’s tactical flexibility.