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Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up on Sanju Samson’s good batting form in the shortest format of the game. Notably, Samson replaced Gill in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa.
Opening the innings, Samson looked in exceptional touch, scoring 37 runs in 22 balls with four fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 168.18. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra stated that he would be keen to see the T20 World Cup squad if the selection committee appoints Gill as the vice-captain.
"The big question will be whether Gill with Abhishek, passion on one side and calm on the other, one slightly cautious, Virat Kohli-type of player and a Rohit Sharma-like Abhishek Sharma on the other side, is that what India want, or else has Sanju Samson's time come?" he said.
"Of course, the team selection is today. Sanju will be there for sure, but will he be with Abhishek, or will it be Shubman Gill? That's a big, big question that's looming large right now because if you appoint Gill as the vice-captain, you will have to play him, but will he be appointed the vice-captain? That's a big question that everybody is asking," he added.
"Sanju last opened in the five-match series against England, where he had slight difficulties against the short ball. After that, he was in the team, but was batting down the order, the entire Asia Cup. He didn't get a chance to open again after that," he said.
"However, when he got a chance, of course, fortune knocked at his door once again, the way he first hit a six against Marco Jansen, I said, 'wow', and then he hit two straight fours. He batted extremely well. I thought he would be able to make a bigger score, but he was absolutely brilliant," Chopra concluded.
India bagged a 30-run win over South Africa in the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad as the hosts sealed the five-match series 3-1.
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