When Shikhar Dhawan announced during the toss of the 1st ODI that Sanju Samson is playing the match, the Indian fans got really happy. However, Samson has dropped again for the 2nd ODI, and it certainly raised a few eyeballs. Simon Doull has now given his view on the same.
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There are a lot of calls about dropping Rishabh Pant to accommodate Sanju in the side, but it should be noted that Pant has done reasonably well in the ODI format, and he even scored a match-winning century against England as well in away conditions. However, he has struggled in the T20Is.
Samson has done really well in the limited opportunities he got in T20Is and ODIs. He has done well in the IPL as well for the Rajasthan Royals. It is certain that the Indian management wants to play Samson, but there is a need of 6th bowler as well which gives Deepak Hooda a nod.
Simon Doull wants India to prefer Sanju Samson over Rishabh Pant
Former New Zealand player and commentator Simon Doull has given his views on the Sanju Samson vs Rishabh Pant debate. He said that Pant has done decently well in the ODI format, but it is certain that he has struggled a lot in the T20Is. Sanju, on the other hand, has done really well in both white-ball formats.
Doull has come in support of Samson, and he insists that Samson deserves an opportunity in the white-ball matches for India as he is certainly not a lesser wicket-keeper than Pant.
“Rishabh Pant’s record is a decent sample size. He has played just under 30 games and only averages 35, the strike rate is good. But Sanju in 11 games is averaging 60-something. And I don’t think he is any less of a wicketkeeper. I just think he deserves an opportunity as well,” Simon Doull told Cricbuzz.
Doull called Pant the future of Indian cricket, but he has not delivered in the white-ball formats yet. He said that there is no doubt about Pant’s place in the test format, as he has won matches for the Indian team and has done great with the gloves as well. But in white-ball formats, Doull wants Samson to be preferred over Pant.
“The Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson debate is an interesting one for me. There is so much talk about Rishabh Pant, and how he is the future. But in white-ball formats, he hasn’t quite done it,” Doull added.
