After India’s disappointing loss to South Africa in the Super Eight opener, assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate suggested that bringing in a right-hander like Sanju Samson could help change the pattern at the top of the batting order. Abhishek Sharma only managed 15 runs, continuing a streak of three consecutive ducks.
The left-handed batsmen, including Abhishek and Tilak Varma, faced strong opposition, causing a batting collapse. Even though Shivam Dube contributed to the score, India was bowled out for 111 while chasing a target of 188. Abhishek has scored just 15 runs in four innings, while Tilak has accumulated 107 runs in five innings.
Samson’s inclusion could provide a right-handed opening option, but his recent performance has been lackluster, with only 290 runs in 17 innings since 2025. The team must decide whether to substitute Tilak for Samson.
India struggled to recover after losing Ishan Kishan, Tilak, and Abhishek. During a press conference, Ryan addressed the potential addition of Samson to the team.
“Yes, definitely. In the five games we’ve played, four teams have opened with part-time off-spinners, claiming a wicket every time, except in the game against the USA where Abhi was dismissed by a fast bowler. Starting each innings at zero for one or just a couple of runs puts pressure on the middle-order players. Tilak and SKY (Surya) were expected to stabilize the innings, but it hasn’t worked out,” he stated.
Ryan recognized the team’s inexperience and highlighted the tough choice India faces: whether to stick with players who have been consistent for the past 18 months or to include Samson.
“Is it better to stay with players who have done well recently, even if they’re not scoring as much now? Or is it time to make a change and bring in Sanju, who is a skilled player with the advantage of being a right-hander? This will be an important discussion as we prepare for the upcoming matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies in the Super Eight,” he concluded.
