Batting at number five for India, Sanju Samson has scored 62 runs at an average of 20.62, which is a dip when compared to his opening numbers, where, from 11 innings, he managed to amass 522 runs at an average of 32.63, including three centuries. Former Indian selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth predicted that by making Samson bat at number five, India are making way to get Shreyas Iyer into the team.
“I somehow feel by making Sanju bat at 5, they are making way for Shreyas Iyer to return to the side. Sanju hasn’t batted much at 5 and he shouldn’t bat at that position either. It will dent his confidence batting at No. 5. I am not too happy for him. To Sanju, I would warn him by saying that this is his last chance. I would also tell him if he fails to score in the next or three innings at this position, Shreyas Iyer will replace him,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
“They are playing Sanju Samson in the middle-order. Are they going to use him as the finisher? No. That’ll be Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. So, Samson will play at 5. Will he deliver? That’s a question mark. You’ve accommodated Sanju Samson ahead of Jitesh Sharma. It is fine for this Asia Cup but what will happen in the T20 World Cup?” he added.
“No chance of winning the T20 World Cup:” Srikkanth
India will look to defend their T20 World Cup crown next February. The showpiece event is co-hosted in both India and Sri Lanka, and before that, the side has an opportunity to test their strengths in weaknesses in the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE. Srikkanth opined that while this set of players might end up winning the Asia Cup, they might not win the T20 World Cup coming up.
“We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
“They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criterion for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that,” he added.
