Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels the Indian wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson might find himself unlucky to not be part of the main squad for the Asia Cup 2023 despite performing well in the 50-over format of the game. Young Tilak Varma and underperforming Suryakumar Yadav were picked ahead of him for the continental event.
Sanju Samson has shown consistency in the ODI format of the game. The 28-year-old scored 390 runs with a sensational average of 55.7 in 12 innings as most of his runs came batting lower down the order but was overlooked by the main team for the Asia Cup 2023, as he will be travelling reserve in the team as a backup option.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, Aakash Chopra feels that Indian selectors should have gone in with Sanju Samson instead of Tilak Varma or Surya Kumar Yadav in the 17-men squad for Asia Cup and feels that the Kerala wicket-keeper batter might consider himself unlucky to be part of the squad despite doing well in the ODI cricket.
“The first big news is that Sanju Samson’s name is not there. In whose place could his name have come? He would have come in place of either Tilak or Surya. He could have become a part of the 17 in place of either of them.”
“Sanju Samson’s fans and Sanju Samson himself might consider themselves slightly unlucky because his performances are good in ODIs as of now as well. He has an average of over 50 and he scored a fifty in the West Indies also. There is no doubt that he plays well. He has a little work experience as well,” Aakash Chopra said
Suryakumar Yadav’s form has been a cause of concern for the Indian team in the 50-over format. The Mumbai-born batter has scored only two half-centuries in the 25 matches, he has played so far in ODIs with a poor average of 23.8 while Tilak Varma has earned his maiden call-up in the ODI team for Asia Cup 2023.
Without A Shadow Of Doubt, Is Your Second Wicketkeeper – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that Sanju Samson would be his second-choice wicket-keeper for India in the middle order next to KL Rahul and added that if India can find a place for Ishan Kishan at the top of the order he could definitely be the second wicket-keeper in the team.
“To be very honest, my initial thought was that if a wicketkeeper has to play in the middle order, Sanju Samson is definitely the second option after KL Rahul. However, if a place can be created as an opener, then Ishan Kishan, without a shadow of a doubt, is your second wicketkeeper,” Aakash Chopra added.
Ishan Kishan was the best batter for the Indian team in the West Indies ODI series scoring three consecutive half-centuries for the team and it will be interesting to see whether he is given the opportunity to open the batting for the team in the continental event.