Srikkanth's biting sarcasm returns for Gautam Gambhir: 'Unlucky Sanju Samson has no option but to be tightlipped'

Kris Srikkanth criticised Gautam Gambhir’s treatment of Sanju Samson, expressing frustration over the keeper-batter’s uncertain T20I role.

Weeks after Gautam Gambhir warned him against targeting players or questioning selection, former India captain Kris Srikkanth returned with biting sarcasm to fiercely defend Sanju Samson. Despite Samson’s explosive performances and key contributions in T20Is, uncertainty around his role in the lineup has left Srikkanth frustrated, prompting him to call out Gambhir’s treatment of the wicketkeeper-batter.

India's Sanju Samson is currently part of the T20I squad for the Australia series. (AFP)

From July 2024 until the start of the Asia Cup last month, Samson proved his mettle as a T20I opener, which included three centuries. Yet, during the T20 tournament in the UAE, Samson was removed as the opener to make way for returning Shubman Gill in the line-up, and got no fixed role in the middle-order. He batted at No. 5 in three of the matches, and in another, he did not get the chance despite India going six down.

“The guy who is most unlucky is Sanju Samson. He was scoring centuries as an opener. But now they send him everywhere — from No. 3 to No. 8. If given an opportunity, they may send him at No. 11 also! A person like Sanju will naturally feel bad after doing so well at the top, but he has no option but to be tight-lipped and bat wherever the team asks him to," Srikkanth said in his YouTube channel.

Srikkanth is, however, relieved, saying the silver lining was Samson’s performance at No. 5 in the Asia Cup. He reckoned it was a positive sign as he’s now the automatic first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup.

“The only good thing is he did well at No. 5 in the Asia Cup. It’s a good sign because Sanju is now the automatic choice as the first wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup,” he said.