In what was expected to be a routine Super Four clash, the India vs Bangladesh batting order caused more confusion than celebration. Fans watching the India vs Bangladesh match in Asia Cup 2025 were left scratching their heads, not because of a nail-biting finish, but because Sanju Samson not playing a single delivery was the plot twist no one saw coming. India’s batting order looked like a magician’s deck—full of tricks, and perhaps, a few disappearing acts.

Gambhir Goes Bold

Let’s start with what actually happened. Coach Gautam Gambhir made a bold call early on in the India vs Bangladesh match in Asia Cup 2025. With India off to a flyer, 72 without loss in the powerplay and 112 for 2 after 11 overs. It looked like a good day to bat. But things took a strange turn. When Shubman Gill fell in the 7th over, instead of Sanju Samson walking in, it was Shivam Dube at No. 3. That move didn’t pay off as Dube lasted just three balls.

Justice for Sanju Samson
Batting alongside Kuldeep and Bumrah 😭 pic.twitter.com/FWe1vLPrFt

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) September 24, 2025

Then came the twist. Wickets tumbled, but Sanju Samson not playing continued to be the headline. Even when India lost their fifth wicket in the 15th over, it wasn’t Sanju. It was Axar Patel. India eventually ended on 168 for 6, with Axar scoring 10 off 15, not quite the impact innings they’d hoped for.

Sanju Samson vs Axar Patel

Now, we’re not here just for drama; we like a bit of logic with our masala. So, what does the data say? Why was Axar sent ahead of Samson? Let’s compare.

At first glance, Axar’s strike rate does stand out. But context matters. He’s faced far fewer balls and mostly batted in situations with fewer expectations. Sanju Samson not playing despite averaging 36.43 with three centuries since the 2024 T20 World Cup? That’s not just a stat; that’s a statement. In the India vs Bangladesh batting order, sending Axar in the 16th over felt like solving a jigsaw puzzle with the wrong piece. His 10 (15) did little to push the total, and it’s hard to argue he was the better option at that moment.

Related Article：Is Team India Wasting Sanju Samson in Asia Cup 2025?

Expert Reactions：Confusion and Criticism

Naturally, eyebrows were raised.

Varun Aaron was blunt on ESPNcricinfo: “Axar ahead of Samson? I do not understand it.” He added, “The man (Samson) got three T20I centuries last year, you’ve got to cut him some slack.” Even Aakash Chopra found the approach baffling. “What India were trying to do with the batting order is baffling to say the least,” he said.

Social media wasn’t any kinder. Fans accused the management of “disrespect” toward Samson, calling the decision clueless at best.

Suryakumar Yadav offered a match-up-based explanation: “Looking at their bowling line-up – they had a left-arm spinner and a legspinner – Dube was a perfect match-up at that moment. His entry point was perfect – seven to 15 overs. So we took that chance.”

Fair enough, on paper. But with Dube out for 2, and Sanju Samson not playing at all, the plan didn’t quite age well.

Sanju Samson is taking inspiration from #Mohanlal for accepting a change of role in the Indian team for the Asia Cup.#INDvsBAN

pic.twitter.com/l2yQILGR0P

— Kerala Trends (@KeralaTrends2) September 24, 2025

What Did Sanju Say?

To his credit, Sanju handled the situation with trademark calm, and a touch of flair. Asked by Sanjay Manjrekar about his demotion, he responded with a philosophical analogy:

“Recently, our Lalettan—Mohanlal, the cinema actor from Kerala—he got a very big award from the country. He has been acting over the last 30-40 years. I have also been playing for my country for the last 10 years. So, I can’t say I can only do a hero role. I need to be a villain, I need to be a joker. I need to play around.”

If that doesn’t scream team spirit (and mild resignation), nothing does. But beneath the humour was a clear message: Sanju Samson not playing his natural role is a bigger concern than just one bad day. Interestingly, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had earlier said, “We believe Sanju is the best man for that (No. 5) job.” Yet in the India vs Bangladesh match in Asia Cup 2025, that belief didn’t translate into action.

Final Thoughts

The experimentation with the India vs Bangladesh batting order may have been rooted in strategy, but it looked more like confusion. Flexibility is great, but chaos isn’t. Sanju Samson not playing a single ball after months of top-order success isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a message that roles remain unclear. As India gears up for the final stage of the Asia Cup, it might be time to stop overthinking and start trusting form. Because as fun as musical chairs might be, cricket isn’t a party game, and neither is managing talent like Samson.