'Lack of clarity': Uthappa discusses Sanju Samson's role ahead of 2024 World Cup

Former India batter Robin Uthappa believes that Sanju Samson is not being used to his optimal best in the T20I format due to a lack of role clarity and is hoped that communication lines are clear with him on batting in an unfamiliar position in the ongoing series against the West IndiesSamson has often been used as a floater in the India T20I batting order meaning that he hasnrsquot got a fixed batting position Being constantly shifted up and down the order means Samson who got a run of batting at No4 just three times in 2020 is yet to get his rhythm in the format so farThe righthanded batter has found tremendous success as a toporder batter for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL but has made only 12 and 7 so far while batting at number six and five in the two T20Is in West IndiesldquoThere is a lack of clarity as far as Sanju Samson is concerned I wish the communication is clear with him because unfortunately the last time he was picked for the Indian team he got injured this year and missed a couple of games He had to then go back to the NCA and come back into the team Now when hersquos back in the squad hersquos batting at a spot which is not his natural position and where he had succeeded previouslyrdquoAlso Read Team Indias Big Three and the inevitability of successionldquoSuddenly hersquos thrown at the deep end and hersquos going to be rated on how he performs in that position I think thatrsquos a little unfair to him and to everyone If you throw Axar Patel to bat at the top of the order and ask him to score runs and deal with the new ball he may not come off with a lot of success unless he gets a certain number of games in that positionrdquo said Uthappa an expert for JioCinema in a select virtual media interactionUthappa a member of Indiarsquos winning squad in the 2007 Menrsquos T20 World Cup further elaborated on why Samson has to be given clarity in his batting position in T20Is keeping in mind the broader pictureldquoAs team management we see this role for you and we guarantee you that you will be playing this number of games in that position He should be told that if you succeed in that position then you will continue to play in that position But say if you are not able to succeed in that position then we will look at somebody else who will fulfil that role as we have a World Cup coming up in 2024rdquoldquoNow I hope for Sanjursquos sake and the larger sake of the team as well that hersquos given that rope because you are not only sending a message to someone like Sanju you are also sending a message to everyone across the board that when you do get to play for India you may not get to bat at those positions that you generally bat at which is completely finerdquoldquoBut if you do get to play in those positions you may not get an extended run and that can cause added pressure Therersquos enough pressure in international and in Indian cricket as you donrsquot get too much of an opportunity unless you are looked at as a blueeyed boy and are seen as the future of Indian cricketrdquoldquoI hope the communication is there with Sanju and I hope he gets a long rope because that would be fair not just for Sanju but for every number three batter who gets thrown in at number six as itrsquos very hard to bat there and adjust to that positionrdquoAmidst India being 20 behind in the fivegame series young lefthanded batter Tilak Varma has made a bright start to his T20I career making 39 and 51 with his impressive strokeplay and calmness at the crease Uthappa foresees Varma to be a longterm middleorder batting option in Indiarsquos future scheme of thingsldquoMost certainly he will be someone India will be investing in as we need a lefthanded batter in the middle order and he can fill the gap beautifully Just the way he approaches his cricket is very refreshing Hersquos a player of this generation and always plays positively while trying to put the pressure back on the bowlers when playing T20 cricketrdquoldquoHe will have to get a little bit of exposure in Oneday cricket We need to wait and see if he gets that immediately now or after World Cup as a lefthanded batter in a middle order will go a long way in oneday cricket Hersquos someone who will be in future for sure alongside the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal to be stalwarts of Indian cricket moving forwardrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever