With the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just 50 days away, former India batter Robin Uthappa has suggested a

change in the batting lineup, advocating for Sanju Samson to bat at No. 3. While India started strong after their 2024

title, winning 17 of 20 T20Is and frequently surpassing the 200-run mark, their scoring rate has since declined.

Since the Asia Cup, India's overall strike rate has dipped to 141.64. Only Abhishek Sharma has maintained a strike rate

above 145. The opening partnership of Samson and Sharma, which averaged 33.43 with a strike rate of 193.84 across 16

innings, fueled India's initial surge after the 2024 World Cup. However, Samson was later moved down the order upon

Shubman Gill's return, part of a long-term leadership plan.

Samson scored 417 runs in 12 T20Is at a strike rate of 183.70 with three centuries at the top. He had mixed results in

the Asia Cup, where he still managed to be India’s third-highest run-scorer with 132 runs. Gill, since his return, has

scored 291 runs in 15 matches, averaging 24.25 with a strike rate of 137, without a fifty.

Uthappa believes that the opening combination should remain untouched but suggests strategic adjustments for the middle

order. He proposes Tilak Varma at No. 4 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 5, which would give the top order more freedom to

attack. He suggests Gill could play a sheet anchor role, similar to Virat Kohli in the last T20 World Cup, allowing

others to bat aggressively around him.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav's recent form is also a concern, with 213 runs in 2025 at an average of 14.20 and a strike

rate of 125.29. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan emphasized the need to finalize roles, noting that India has

experimented with multiple options at No. 3 in recent series. Pathan also expressed concern about Suryakumar's form,

highlighting the importance of the captain performing well leading up to the World Cup.

Pathan acknowledged Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive approach may lead to occasional early dismissals, but it shouldn't be

changed. He stressed the importance of Suryakumar finding form to alleviate pressure on the middle order. As the World

Cup approaches, India needs to establish role clarity and rediscover their scoring tempo.