Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra feels that Sanju Samson might have been selected in India’s squad for the T20I series against New Zealand but he might not get a chance to be in the playing XI for the T20I series against New Zealand.
The Indian cricket team was scheduled to kickstart their T20I series against the Black Caps in a three-match T20I series, however, the first game which was to be played in Wellington on Friday was ruled out because of the rain. Hardik Pandya has been picked as the captain of the 16-member Indian squad in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma.
Reflecting on the Indian squad in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned if Sanju would find a place in the playing XI. He said: “You have selected Sanju Samson but where will you play him, because if Shreyas Iyer doesn’t play at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav doesn’t play at No. 4 and Hardik doesn’t play at No. 5, where will they play?”
Sanju Samson was in terrific form this year but the selectors didn’t even consider his name while picking the squad for the T20 World Cup 2022. Samson has scored 296 runs at a strike rate of 135.15 in the 16 T20Is he has played. He last played against the West Indies in August this year, scoring an unbeaten 30 and 15 runs at No. 5 and No. 4 respectively in the two games he played on that tour.
Furthermore, Chopra pointed out that there is no place available in the middle order for a Kerala wicketkeeper-batter. The former Indian opener explained:
“Suryakumar Yadav should not go below No. 4, Iyer should not go below No. 3 or No. 4 and Hardik shouldn’t go below No. 5. The earliest place available for Sanju Samson is No. 6 but he might not be useful there. You can play Deepak Hooda there, although most of Hooda’s runs have also come at the top of the order,”
Chopra also questioned whether Prithvi Shaw should have been selected ahead of Shubman Gill. He observed:
“Is Shubman Gill your all-three format player or a T20 specialist? If he is not a T20 specialist and you want to write a new story, then Prithvi Shaw should have probably been there.”
Aakash Chopra also stated that Umran Malik and Mohammed Siraj might not get a place in the playing XI. He said:
“Umran Malik and Mohammed Siraj are a part of your team but will you be able to play either of them? The question is that Arshdeep and Harshal are automatic choices because Harshal was part of the World Cup also and provides batting as well. I feel you will not be able to use the extra pace of Umran Malik and Siraj.”
