Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra lauded Sanju Samson’s performance in the second ODI against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on Saturday. India skittled out Zimbabwe at 161 runs after KL Rahul opted to bowl first against the hosts.
India was not comprehensive in their run-chase as they found themselves at 97-4. However, Sanju Samson was able to hit the ground running as he scored an unbeaten knock of 43 runs off just 39 balls to help India get over the line.
Samson added 56 runs with Deepak Hooda to help the visitors get close to the target. Chopra reckons if there is a traffic jam at the top, Sanju Samson will be the next in the selection line.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Welcome Sanju Samson with applause. Make it a principle of life that if there is a traffic jam at the top, you should be next in line, that whenever there is a chance, I should be the guy. So Sanju keep doing that.”
“Sanju is getting fewer opportunities. There are two points of view there. One is that he doesn’t make the best of his chances and that’s why he gets fewer opportunities. The second school of thought is that you give him chances continuously, then only you will come to know if he has utilized them or not.”
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson hasn’t been able to grab his opportunities at the top level and a lot of cricket experts feel he needs to be more consistent. Samson has thus far played six ODIs and 16 T20Is for the Indian team.
The renowned commentator added that one has to take every chance and make the most of them when there are fewer opportunities.
“Sanju is getting fewer opportunities. There are two points of view there. One is that he doesn’t make the best of his chances and that’s why he gets fewer opportunities. The second school of thought is that you give him chances continuously, then only you will come to know if he has utilized them or not.”
“When he got to bat, the Indian team was under a little bit of pressure because Rahul, Shikhar, Gill, and Ishan had all gotten out. Suddenly you realized whether the game will get stuck, but that did not happen. Sanju Samson was present, and finished the match with a six.”
Samson was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock. Furthermore, the wicket-keeper took three catches in the Zimbabwean innings.
The third ODI between India and Zimbabwe will be played on Monday.
