India, Sept. 24 -- India head coach Gautam Gambhir was criticised on Wednesday during their second Super Four game in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 against Bangladesh in Dubai for holding back Sanju Samson for the No. 8 spot in the batting line-up. The move came a day after India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate assured that the management is backing Samson as a No. 5 option.

Samson was not picked as India's designated opener for the Asia Cup, despite having batted at that position in all 12 innings for the team since the end of the T20 World Cup last year, which included three century knocks. He batted at No. 3 against Oman, scoring a patient fifty, before being sent at No. 5.

On Tuesday, speaking to the media in the pre-match presser, T...