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Former India cricketer and commentator Mohammad Kaif has suggested that Sanju Samson should be selected ahead of Shubman Gill as an opener in the remaining three games of the five-match T20I series against South Africa.
Gill could score only four runs in the first two games of the ongoing series against South Africa. On the other hand, Samson, who has proved himself as an explosive top-order batter, has been benched in both games.
“Look at how he is getting out, caught at slip, stepping out and mistiming, trying aggressive strokes like Abhishek Sharma and getting caught," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“He has tried everything. I think the time has come to give him a break and try players who are proven. Sanju Samson is a top-quality player; he hasn’t received enough chances. There should not be double standards. Even vice-captains have been dropped before. If it is in the team’s interest to rest Gill and bring in someone else, there is nothing wrong with it,” he added.
Furthermore, Kaif has accused the Indian team management, headed by the head coach Gautam Gambhir, of giving too many chances to Shubman Gill despite not being settled in the playing XI.
“But now it feels like the time has come for changes. You dropped players like Jaiswal, you kept Sanju Samson on the bench without giving him consistent chances, even though he scored heavily as an opener. He hit three centuries in five T20 innings, something no one in history has done. Some players get very few chances, while others get extended runs because you want to settle them in the team. That is clearly visible. But now, I think the pressure has increased so much that it is time for a change somewhere," he stated.
The five-match T20I series between India and South Africa is currently levelled at 1-1. The third T20I is scheduled to be played on Sunday, December 14, in Dharamsala.
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