India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has dismissed suggestions of any ‘agenda’ or favoritism in team selection, citing that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav try to do what’s best for the side.
Kotak said the entire team understands this, and those warming the bench extend their full support to the starters.
His answer was in response to a query about Arshdeep Singh’s snub from India’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE on Wednesday (September 10).
The left-arm quick, who is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, found himself among the substitutes as the team went with only one specialist pacer in Jasprit Bumrah, two premier spinners, and three all-rounders.
The move paid off on the dry surface assisting tweakers as India bundled out the hosts for just 57 and gunned down the target in 4.3 overs with nine wickets in hand.
“The first discussion we have with the head coach and the captain is that obviously, these 15 are like this, everyone deserves to play," Kotak said on Friday, as quoted by PTI.
“If any player is not playing, it will be difficult for him because he will feel [left] out. But, at the end of the day, it’s a team sport. So, everyone knows that there is no agenda, there is no personal liking, disliking. Whatever is best for the team, the captain and head coach will decide and do that. And I don’t think there is any doubt in anybody’s mind. So, whoever is not playing, they are always trying to help the guys who are playing," he added.
Sanju Samson’s demotion to the middle order also became a topic of debate on social media. The wicketkeeper-batter was doing brilliantly as an opener before the continental showpiece, but the return of Shubman Gill to the T20I fold as vice-captain meant one of Samson and Abhishek Sharma had to be dislodged.
Kotak defended the decision by claiming that every batter is prepared to bat wherever the team needs.
“See, Sanju has not batted a lot at No. 5 or 6. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t do it. So, I think Sanju is a good enough player to bat at any number. So, according to the requirement of the team, captain and head coach will decide. And he is more than happy to bat at any number," Kotak said.
“If you look at our batting line-up, everyone is capable of going in at any number and finish the match. Although we have four-five such aggressive players, the head coach or captain can decide according to the situation. More or less, everyone is prepared to bat at any number. Sanju, in the last match, he would have batted at number 5. In the next match, he can bat at any number. So, it is not fixed. Everyone knows their role. So, they will be ready according to the situation," he remarked.
India’s next group-stage match is scheduled against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (September 14) in Dubai.
