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Former Indian cricketer R Ashwin has opened up on Sanju Samson's absence in the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on December 9, as Jitesh Sharma was considered over him. Ashwin said that it was always going to be tough for Samson to get into India's T20I XI in the presence of Shubman Gill. 

Ashwin spoke on the amount of discussions that follow each time Samson is excluded from the team. He also hinted that Samson would have been the preferred in the absence of Gill.

"There was a lot of talk before the game that Sanju should play, why is he not being played and all that. Whenever Sanju is dropped from the team, there is always a discussion, the question of whether he got a fair run, and all that. The moment Shubman Gill came into the side, and as a vice-captain, Sanju was always going to find it difficult to get into the XI," shared Ashwin in a video on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin suggested the team management to try Samson at No. 3 if at all they want to include him due to his abilities of playing against spin.

"Sanju has not played enough at No.5, and Jitesh Sharma is there in the squad for his finishing abilities. That was the role he played for RCB, so it was always going to be difficult for Sanju. If you are playing Sanju, play him at No.3, use him against spin," he added.

Samson was left out for Jitesh despite coming off a decent 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Kerala. He registered 233 runs in six matches while striking at 137.86. Jitesh had a relatively underwhelming run in the SMAT as compared to Samson.

Meanwhile, India secured a massive 101-run win in the series-opening clash at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Jitesh, who came right at the end of India's innings, scored an unbeaten 5-ball 10 and took four catches behind the wicket.