Asia Cup 2025: Ten Doeschate Supports Samson at No. 5; Updates on Bumrah’s Status for IND vs BAN

In cricket, balancing flexibility in the batting order with player comfort in specific positions is crucial. In India’s current T20I setup, it’s particularly important for the team management to emphasize Sanju Samson’s role at No. 5. After a reshuffle following Shubman Gill’s return at the Asia Cup, Samson was tried at No. 3 against Oman, scoring a half-century. However, he was moved back to No. 5 for the match against Pakistan, where he scored 13 runs from 17 balls before being bowled by Haris Rauf.

As India prepared for the Super Fours clash against Bangladesh, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate provided assurance to the 30-year-old Samson. Ten Doeschate expressed confidence in Samson’s ability to figure out and excel in the No. 5 position, acknowledging the challenging conditions against Pakistan.

When asked about Jasprit Bumrah’s performance against Pakistan and the possibility of resting him in upcoming Super Fours matches, Ten Doeschate suggested that it was unlikely, given the competitive nature of the tournament and the preparation for an upcoming Test match against the West Indies. Bumrah was previously rested during the group match against Oman, emphasizing the team’s careful approach to managing his workload.

Published on Sep 23, 2025