AUS vs IND 2025, 2nd T20I: Sanju Samson (Source: Santanu Banik/MB Media/Getty Images)

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has shared doubts regarding Sanju Samson's role in the Indian T20I setup. Samson was sidelined for Jitesh Sharma in the third T20I of the ongoing series between Australia and India.

He urged the Indian team to reconsider their current approach of using Samson as a floater, urging them to assign him a fixed position in the batting order.

Irfan felt moving Samson around in the lineup might not be the most effective alternative.

"As for Sanju Samson, if he keeps moving up and down the batting order like this, I'm not sure (how effective that will be). I know that in T20 cricket, apart from the openers, no one really has a fixed position and flexibility is important. But in the name of flexibility, you shouldn't become so elastic that you lose the stability that comes with having defined roles. This is something the Indian team really needs to pay attention to," stated Pathan in a video on his YouTube channel.

Irfan noted that the team management has not ye excluded Samson from the scheme of things. However, he commented on how things could take a turn for the worse if Samson fails to deliver in a few consecutive innings.

"It does seem that Sanju Samson is getting that support right now, because even though Shubman Gill has returned as an opener, Samson has still been included in the team and is being trusted to bat in the middle order. There's no doubt he's getting the support he needs. But that support can fade quickly if a player has three or four failures in a row.

Hopefully, that won't happen with Sanju Samson," he added.

Apart from a 56 against Oman in the Asia Cup 2025, there was no other substantial score from Samson's end in the continental tournament. He did not get to bat in the first T20I with the contest getting washed out.

Indialost the second match in Melbourne by four wickets as Samson could only manage 2 off 4. Jitesh's performances are understood to decide how the team management views Samson in the 20-over setup.

Indialost the second match in Melbourne by four wickets as Samson could only manage 2 off 4. Jitesh's performances are understood to decide how the team management views Samson in the 20-over setup.