Cheteshwar Pujara backed Sanju Samson to open for India ahead of the five-match T20 series against the West Indies, pointing to both the wicket in Lucknow and Samson's current form as the key reasons for keeping the batting order stable.
India and the West Indies are scheduled to play the first T20I later on Tuesday in Lucknow, and Pujara said the surface at Ekana could make the opening game a real test. He noted that bowlers will not mind the wicket, explaining that it offers some assistance to both fast bowlers and spinners and is not especially easy for batting.
That background matters because India have already spent time on difficult batting conditions. At the Asian Games in Japan, India played on challenging pitches, and Pujara said that experience could help the team adjust. Even so, he added that the short turnaround before the series opener could still leave India with limited time to fully adapt.
Why Pujara leaned toward Samson
The bigger selection question is at the top of the order. Pujara said Abhishek Sharma has been outstanding, describing him as one of the most exceptional players in T20 cricket because of his strike rate, his consistency and the starts he gives India. He also said Abhishek's time away from the number one role was brief.
Still, Pujara came down in favor of Sanju Samson for the opening slot. His view was straightforward: Samson is an experienced player who has won a World Cup, is performing well, and is at his peak right now. In Pujara's words, India should not make a sudden change simply because another exceptional talent is waiting on the bench.
Pujara also said India should not overlook the fact that Samson is equally talented and that opportunities will come for others, including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, especially if injuries create openings later on. His point was not to shut the door, but to avoid changing a functioning top order before the series has even started.
Middle-order flexibility remains important
Pujara also highlighted India's options in the middle and lower order. He said that in white-ball cricket, particularly in T20s, the team needs players at numbers 5, 6 and 7 who can bat according to the situation. That is where India have another layer of flexibility going into the series.
He pointed to Tilak Varma as a player who can change a game late, especially after 15 or 16 overs when the asking rate spikes. Pujara said Tilak has already shown the ability to attack at the death and score 30 or 40 runs off 10 balls when the match demands it.
For India, that balance is the main storyline heading into Lucknow. The top order debate is real, but so is the depth behind it. Pujara's view suggests India already have several pieces in place; the challenge is deciding which combination gives them the best start in a wicket that may not make batting easy.
