Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on Sanju Samson’s future after the third T20I against New Zealand. Sanju Samson has struggled with his form, returning with scores of 10, 6, and 0 in the ongoing series against New Zealand, thus casting a doubt on his place for the T20 World Cup.

On the other hand, Kishan has grabbed his opportunity with both hands in the absence of Tilak Varma while batting at one drop in the T20I series against New Zealand.

The left-hander, who was dismissed cheaply in the opening T20I, scored a blistering knock of 76 runs off just 32 balls with the help of 11 fours and four sixes in the second game. Thus, Kishan played an instrumental role in India’s seven-wicket win. 

The hosts were chasing a par score of 209 runs and Kishan added 122 runs off 48 balls with captain Suryakumar Yadav after India lost two early wickets. Furthermore, the southpaw scored a blistering knock of 28 runs off 13 balls in the third T20I against the Kiwis at Guwahati.

“You might ask whether there could be a fight with 153. It could have been there if a wicket had fallen off the first ball. Sanju Samson got out off the first ball. He got out in the last two matches as well, and Ishan Kishan is playing well however much he is playing,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Ishan Kishan played a short but destructive knock this time too. He batted incredibly well, and by the time his wicket fell at 53, he had made his runs, and he is not stopping anytime soon. So who is ahead in this race?” he added.

The renowned commentator said Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson’s recent numbers are identical.

“You will have to ask a question. We dropped Gill because there was a new philosophy or ideology and went towards Sanju Samson, but it seems like you won’t be able to stay with him for long. If you see their numbers lately, they seem identical,” Chopra observed.

The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.