Sanju Samson has a Rohit Sharma-like ease while hitting sixes: Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has lauded the opening batter Sanju Samson, who scored an exceptional 89-run knock in the second semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium, as India secured a seven-run win to advance to the final.

Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Chopra asserted that Sanju deserves the praise for maximizing the dropped catch and turning the game towards India’s favour, helping them to post 253/7 in 20 overs.

"Sanju's catch was dropped, and a catch becomes the match many times. It was a straightforward catch for Harry Brook, but he dropped it, and after that, Sanju shone. Luck favored him a little initially, and then he had to make his own luck. The way he batted deserves applause," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"Six-hitting is an art. When you see that art in others, they hit the ball hard. However, when Sanju Samson's bat strikes the ball, it feels like he has a Rohit Sharma-like ease while hitting sixes. He is not putting any power. He is not hitting the ball hard. He just flicks the ball and it goes into the stands. He is that kind of a player," he added.

Furthermore, Chopra also warned the New Zealand team that Samson is in good form ahead of the grand finale. Notably, Samson is coming into this game on the back of two consecutive player of the match awards.

"You will find one more thing with Sanju. When he gets on a roll, then he actually gets on a proper roll, good knocks come one after the other. The same thing happens when he gets out early. It becomes a kind of pattern of getting out early. Two innings have happened. Both were knockout games," he said.

"New Zealand, we are warning you slightly because if Sanju comes in such form, things start looking slightly different. Sanju Samson got this chance with great difficulty. It seemed like he wouldn't be able to reach here. It felt like that when this tournament started as well, but back-to-back brilliant innings," Chopra concluded.

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