Argus News - Trending: Suresh Raina Wants Sanju Samson to Bat at No. 3 for CSK at IPL 2026

New Delhi, Mar 14: Former India batter Suresh Raina backed Sanju Samson for No. 3 position in the Chennai Super Kings batting order for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026, saying the tactic would provide balance to the team’s batting order.

Samson is coming to the IPL on the back of some great knocks, while opening the innings, in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup, where the wicketkeeper-batter scored three half centuries in succession — Super 8 match vs the West Indies, the semifinal vs England and the final vs New Zealand.

However, despite Samson’s great form as an opener, Raina suggested that CSK should open the innings with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre, while placing Samson at No. 3 to anchor the batting unit and link the top order with the middle order.

“He was the captain of the Rajasthan Royals for so many years. I think his role will be clear here. Will Sanju Samson or Ruturaj open Mhatre? Or will Ayush play as number three? If Sanju plays as number three, it will be good according to me, because then Dewald Brevis will come at number four,” Raina told Jio Hotstar.

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“Shivam Dube will come at number five. At number six, it depends on who you bring. Will Prashant Veer be there? Will Akeal Hosein be there? Will Noor Ahmed be there? It will be important to know how many fast bowlers play overseas,” he said.

Raina also backed Samson to take up wicket-keeping duties for CSK ahead of veteran skipper MS Dhoni, highlighting the Kerala-born batter’s growing popularity among fans while again insisting that Samson should be placed at number three to guide the innings.

“But Sanju will be there as a keeper. We saw the atmosphere he created when he played in the World Cup. He welcomed everyone there. I think his role will be more important as number three. If you allow Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad to bat at the top, the middle order looks more experienced and stronger,” he said.

“Otherwise, after that, it will be MS Dhoni coming in, and I feel he will only play the last two or three overs. Before that, when Brevis comes in with Sanju, and then Shivam Dube after him, it becomes very important to have a player like Sanju there who brings a different level of experience,” Raina added.

Samson has been traded from the Rajasthan Royals to CSK in place of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran before the IPL 2026 auction. Samson has played 177 IPL matches and scored 4707 runs at an average of 30.95.

(IANS)