India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, confirmed that Sanju Samson will open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, starting on October 6 in Gwalior. This decision marks a pivotal moment in Samson’s international career, as he takes on a new role in India's lineup.

Since his debut in 2015, Samson has been in and out of the national team, and this series presents a rare opportunity for him to play as a first-choice opener for the entire series. “Sanju Samson will play and open the batting in this series, going forward with Abhishek Sharma,” Suryakumar Yadav said during a pre-match press conference in Gwalior.

Samson’s promotion to the top of the order comes due to India’s squad having only one designated opener in Abhishek Sharma. While Samson has limited experience opening for India, he has shown promise in his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals, where he has been known for his aggressive powerplay batting.

In his 30 T20I appearances for India, Samson has opened only five times, with his standout performance being a 77-run knock against Ireland in 2022. Despite inconsistent results as an opener for India, his attacking potential, as demonstrated in IPL, makes him a valuable asset at the top. Samson has accumulated 444 runs at a strike rate of 131.36 in his T20I career, including two fifties.

“Sanju has that wide range of shots, and we believe he can make a significant impact at the top of the order. He has shown what he is capable of in the IPL, and we hope he can replicate that for India,” Suryakumar added. With Rishabh Pant rested for this series, Samson has also been named India’s first-choice wicketkeeper.

This series against Bangladesh provides a crucial platform for Samson to solidify his place in India's T20 setup. With the next T20 World Cup still two years away, consistent performances as an opener and wicket-keeper could put him in strong contention for future selections in India’s white-ball teams.