Popular opener Sanju Samson falls to No 8 in India’s Asia Cup batting order

Sanju Samson was in focus every time an Indian wicket fell against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4s match in Dubai on Wednesday.

He was shown on the big screen when Shubman Gill fell (29) in the 7th over, but Shivam Dube was promoted. And when the lanky left-hander fell for 2 off 3, skipper Suryakumar Yadav came to bat. After he nicked one behind for 5 off 11, Sanju's 'poker face' was shown on the screen again. However, it was Hardik Pandya who was sent out to bat. No 5 was Tilak Varma (5 off 7) and No 6 was Axar Patel (10 not out off 15).

The Kerala wicketkeeper batter warmed the bench with a handful of bowlers, while India posted an average total of 168/6. A disappointing score, considering openers Abhishek Sharma and Gill had added 77 in 6.1 overs.

Sanju had batted at No 5 in India's previous Super 4s match, against Pakistan. He struggled to read the conditions and was clean-bowled by Haris Rauf for 13 off 17, having hit just one boundary.

Was that the one-off bad game the reason for keeping Sanju off strike against Bangladesh? Or was head coach Gautam Gambhir being adamant in maintaining the left-right combination in his batting order?

Sanju's batting skills have not been put to good use in the UAE, barring the odd league fixture against Oman, where he was promoted to No 3, and he repaid the trust with a 45-ball 56. That was the highest by an Indian on the night, while Abhishek Sharma made 38 and Tilak Varma added 29, to help India to 188/8.

His services were not needed in the earlier league matches against the UAE and Pakistan, which India won by nine wickets and seven wickets respectively. The last time Sanju played Bangladesh, he scored a hundred (111 off 47) in a T20I in Hyderabad. Back then, Sanju was India's opener, a spot he has since lost to Shubman Gill.