Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes Sanju Samson deserves two more chances in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. India has taken an impregnable lead of 3-0 in the series and Samson will open the innings with Abhishek Sharma after Tilak Varma is likely ruled out of the entire series.
Pressure is rising on Samson as Ishan Kishan has grabbed his chance with both hands while batting at number three. Kishan has returned with scores of 8, 76 and 28 against the Kiwis.
On the other hand, Samson has managed 10, 6, and 0 in the first three games against the Blackcaps. Chopra reckons we might not have been in the same situation if Shubman Gill had not replaced Sanju Samson at the top of the order in the Asia Cup.
“Tilak Varma might not be available for these two games, which means he will join the team before the World Cup, which is a great thing actually, because Sanju Samson will get two more opportunities here. Now you will see both Sanju and Ishan Kishan playing. One of the games is at Sanju’s home. It is in Thiruvananthapuram,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“It was necessary for him to get two more chances because if we hadn’t pivoted in the Asia Cup and Sanju had kept opening, he might not have been feeling this pressure at this time, because it’s unfair. If he had kept opening, either you would have become a hero or gone out. So good news for Sanju and his fans that there are two more games,” he added.
The renowned commentator admitted Sanju Samson is struggling at the top of the order as he hasn’t delivered the goods.
“Nobody can actually argue or complain that full chances weren’t given, although the truth is that Sanju is struggling. We are seeing that clearly. He is going deep into the crease and getting beaten and out to full deliveries. It’s happened in three consecutive innings. This happens with Sanju. When he gets out, he keeps getting out cheaply,” he said.
Chopra recalled the T20I series against England when Sanju Samson was troubled by short deliveries. Samson could only manage 51 runs against the visitors in five matches.
“I recall the England series, five innings and he got out almost similarly all five times. Here also, it’s been three innings, and in all three, almost deep inside the crease, and twice caught and once bowled. So it happens together. It’s either a century or a duck, his story has been like that,” Chopra observed.
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
