‘It’s tough on Sanju Samson’ – Former Indian spinner backs Sanju Samson after he failed to perform against New Zealand in first ODI

Sanju Samson was not able to leave his mark in the first ODI as he was able to score only 36 runs and he was dropped from the second ODI, however, the match was abandoned after constant rain. After being not included in the 20-20 World Cup, Samson was included in both the T20I series and ODI series against the Blackcaps. He didn’t get a chance to play in T20Is but he got an opportunity to play in the first ODI where he was able to score only 36 runs. 

India lost this match by seven wickets and made two changes for the second ODI. Deepak Hooda and Deepak Chahar played in place of Sanju Samson and Shardul Thakur. The reason for excluding Samson from the team was that the team wanted a batting all-rounder in the eleven to have more bowling options.

Former Indian spinner Murali Kartik said that the lack of batting all-rounders is impacting Samson’s international career. “You want bowling options, unfortunately for India, the top-six that we have here, none of them bowl. And I said this before as well, it’s tough on Sanju Samson. We all keep talking about how good he is,” Karthik said on Prime Video.

I know VVS Laxman has got a lot on his plate: Murali Kartik

Samson was brilliant in the ODI series against South Africa before the 20-20 World Cup, where he scored 86*, 30*, and 2* during the three matches. “He (Samson) comes and gets a lovely score. He bats really well in the series against South Africa. Yes, the feeling is to keep him going, and then that’s right. But now he misses out in spite of scoring runs in the previous game and you get Deepak Hooda to bowl, which is fine,” Kartik said.

He added, “…if you are picking him as a batter from the get-go and then getting him to bowl, that’s a different thing. But for him to come now and then the others to miss out.. look Shardul Thakur has been among the wickets. It’s a tough ask. I know VVS Laxman has a lot on his plate, he is a fair man. With the squad of 14, this is what they have tried to do, given what happened in the previous game,” he added.