In an interesting move at the MCG, Sanju Samson has walked out to bat at No.3 for India after Shubman Gill’s dismissal — a spot usually occupied by skipper Suryakumar Yadav in this format.
Samson, who traditionally bats lower down as a middle-order accelerator, has been promoted today, marking a rare top-order shuffle. Suryakumar, one of India’s most explosive No.3 batters in T20Is, is expected to come in at No.4.
Gill fell for 5 off 10 after surviving an early helmet blow from Hazlewood, before mistiming a lofted shot to mid-off where Mitchell Marsh completed the catch.
India are 20/1 in 2.4 overs, with Abhishek Sharma looking fluent at the other end.
This tactical adjustment could be part of India’s experimentation ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup — offering Samson more time at the crease in pressure conditions.
