Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer feels Sanju Samson will get the nod ahead of the left-handed Ishan Kishan in the first game against the West Indies in the three-match ODI Series as the latter bats mostly at the top of the order for the India team in white-ball cricket.
With Rishabh Pant being ruled of ODI World Cup and KL Rahul uncertain to return for the continental event. Team India has got two wicket-keepers in the squad for the West Indies tour, this series is most likely an audition for the two players as one of the two wicket-keepers can make it into the Indian World Cup squad.
With many experts divided by their opinion on the wicket-keeper spot, Wasim Jaffer feels that they could be competition between both the players until the World Cup squad is announced and believes that Sanju Samson could be provided the opportunity in this series as Ishan Kishan might not get the nod as bats usually at the top order and reckons that whoever the gets the chance, they will look to make an impact to get the ticket to the mega event later this year.
“It could be both of them (Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson. That’s the test they are going to face up until the World Cup team is going to get selected. For Sanju Samson, I feel he might get the opportunity first in this series, and it’s huge games leading up to the World Cup for him”.
“Because Ishan Kishan bats top of the order, they have got Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill there so Ishan Kishan might not get the opportunity as of now. Whoever gets the opportunity and whoever grabs that opportunity, I feel they will be picked up,” Wasim Jaffer said in Espncricinfo.
Ishan Kishan will be back into the ODI team after an aggressive half-century in the 2nd test whereas Sanju Samson will come into the national team after a good IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2023 and the Indian team management will have a tough choice to make ahead of the 1st ODI starting on Thursday.
I Think No.4 Is A Little Too Early For Him – Wasim Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer believes that the best position for Suryakumar Yadav is NO.5 and No.6 in the ODI format to start things as the lows to take on the bowlers when there are fewer overs around and once he starts scoring then the 360-degree batter can be moved up the order in the batting order.
“In my opinion, the best position for him in ODIs are No.5 and No.6. I would start with him at No.6 in the first ODI. Once he gets going there…because that’s how he plays in T20 cricket also, he bats at No.3 or No.4, but the overs are a little shorter.
“So, once he gets the hang of it in ODIs, I think No.4 is a little too early for him. If he starts scoring, then I would think of him moving up the order at No.5, or even further,” Wasim Jaffer added.
Suryakumar has scored 172 ODI runs at an average of just 12.28 since his last ODI half-century in February 2022 and is the first batter to get out on the first ball in three consecutive ODI against Australia in the last ODI series at home and he will look to turn things around if provided an opportunity against the Men in Maroon.