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Sanju Samson (Source: Twitter)
Indian wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson hasn’t got many chances at the international level to show his capability according to his fans. The 28-year-old has been included in the Indian squad for the New Zealand tour. However, former Indian Cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that the Kerala batter will not get a chance to play on the entire tour due to huge competition for slots in the playing XI.
Chopra said that since Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya have fixed places in the team making it difficult for Samson to bat in the top or middle order.
"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?" Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
With Rishabh Pant also a part of the squad, the former Indian opener feels that Sanju will only get to bat at no 6 where he’s not used to batting.
"The earliest place available for Sanju Samson is No. 6" : Aakash Chopra
"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,” he added.
Samson has played 16 T20Is for India scoring 296 runs at an average of 21.14 and a strike rate of 135.15. He also one half-century to his name in the format. He has further played 10 ODIs scoring 294 runs at an average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 106.13. He also has two half centuries to his name in the format.
With senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma rested on the New Zealand tour, several youngsters are expected to be given a chance in both T20I and ODI series.
Meanwhile, the first T20I of the three-match series got washed out on Friday at Wellington. The second T20I of the series will be played on Sunday, November 20 at Mount Maunganui. The ODI series will begin from 25th November at Auckland.