T20 World Cup 2026: JP Duminy backs Sanju Samson as India’s No. 3 for Super Eight showdown against South Africa | Exclusive

Former South Africa all-rounder JP Duminy has opened up on concerns around Tilak Varma’s strike rate and Sanju Samson’s potential inclusion for India’s Super Eight clash against the Proteas at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on February 22.

Tilak has been under scrutiny due to his scoring rate and inability to convert the starts into scores of substance. He scored 25 each against USA, Namibia, and Pakistan and followed it up with a sluggish 31 off 27 against Netherlands in Ahmedabad, finishing the group stage with 106 runs at just a touch over 120.

The oppositions have also tied India with spin in middle overs, particularly off-spin, exploiting the match-up advantage with six left-handers in their first-choice top eight, including the southpaw trio at the top: openers Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan followed by Tilak at No. 3.

Does that make a case to include a right-hander in Samson, once the first-choice wicketkeeper and opener who lost his place to Kishan with a wretched run of form in the lead-up to the tournament? Duminy thinks so.

“What I love about Sanju [Samson] is that it looks like he is playing that aggressive brand of cricket, which India certainly played for a period of time. We talk about Abhishek Sharma and the brand of cricket that he has played over a long period of time. So, Sanju comes in and certainly plays that [same way] as well. He offers a right-handed option at the top of the order, if the need be,” said Duminy on the latest episode of Mr Cricket UAE podcast.

“I wouldn't be surprised if we see Sanju coming in [against South Africa]. I think it does put a little bit of pressure on a guy like Tilak Varma coming in early; you are trying to steady the ship. But, I guess, it's a yin-yang with having the strike rates upped on the other side. And then, obviously, he has the anchoring role. So, maybe there's a discussion around what the roles are. I mean, if there's clarity of role, then that's all that they need, really,” he added.

Duminy, however, reckoned that Samson, if included, should bat at Tilak’s position, advising India against disturbing the Abhishek-Kishan opening combination.

“Yeah, it's an interesting one. I like the look of keeping the two left-handers up top and then Sanju at three, if they are going to go the Tilak Varma replacement [way]. I would probably go that route. I will go Sanju [at No.] three.