Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has revealed advice for under-fire Sanju Samson, who is struggling to score runs in the ongoing T20I series against England. Samson was once again dismissed cheaply on a short ball for only a solitary run in the fourth T20I against England at Pune on Friday.
Earlier, the right-hander was dismissed by Jofra Archer on short-pitched deliveries in the first three T20Is. Ali urged Samson to take a leaf out of Hardik Pandya’s book and play the hook shot instead of a pull.
Ali suggested Samson to play the pull shot in the mid-on or mid-wicket region like the all-rounder. Samson has managed 35 runs in four matches of the series at an average of 8.75 as his Achilles Heel against short-pitched deliveries has been exposed.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube Channel, “What mistake Sanju is making? He’s playing pull shots and not hook shots. If he wants to play a pull shot, do it like Hardik Pandya, who smacked one over mid-on or play towards mid-wicket.”
Ali showered praise on Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya for creating a base with an 87-run alliance after India was in trouble at 78-5.
“It looked like Pandya was full of aggression. The 87-run partnership [between Pandya and Shivam Dube] created a base.”
On the other hand, former Pakistan wicket-keeper bat Kamran Akmal showered praise on Hardik Pandya, who scored a fine knock of 53 runs off just 30 balls.
Akmal said on his YT Channel, “In the last five to seven overs, Hardik Pandya is very dangerous. He didn’t see whether Jofra Archer was bowling or whether Saqib had taken three wickets. He showed his game and class. Excellent and match-winning all-rounder.”
Furthermore, Shivam Dube also scored a match-winning knock of 53 runs and he was awarded Player of the Match.
The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
