Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opined that Sanju Samson shouldn’t replace Abhishek Sharma in India’s playing XI for the Super 8 clash against South Africa in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Sharma has bagged three consecutive ducks in the three games of the tournament and he is yet to get off the mark. Earlier, Sharma had scored 182 runs in five matches against the Kiwis at a blistering strike rate of almost 250.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson had scored a little cameo of 8-ball 22 in the Group stage match against Namibia at Delhi. Samson was dropped from the playing XI after he could only manage 46 runs in five matches against New Zealand at an average of 9.20.
“No, don’t do that. You go through bad times. A guy gets out once or twice. He (Abhishek) got out for zero twice even in the New Zealand series, but he scored runs after that, and you don’t start dropping people just like that,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator said Samson is also not in great form and it won’t make much sense to play him ahead of Abhishek Sharma.
“It’s not like Sanju Samson is coming with such rocket form, seeing which you would say that there is a great injustice being done, or you get the confidence that he would hit Marco Jansen into the Sabarmati if he plays. He isn’t coming after scoring so many runs,” Chopra observed.
The former Delhi cricketer added that Abhishek must get back amongst the runs against the Proteas.
“I am not going to entertain that thought one bit. I am not thinking about it. I think Abhishek Sharma has to continue, and he must score runs also, although it’s true that we are struggling against off-spin. We have lost wickets there, whether it was against Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha or Aryan Dutt,” he said in the same video.
The former KKR batter said India must take the attack to South Africa’s Aiden Makram.
“We have been falling short against spin, especially off-spin, but Aiden Markram will come in the opposition. If you are going to get scared of Aiden Markram, and no disrespect, but Aiden Markram in the powerplay overs, even though India might have three left-handers, you need to take the attack to the opposition,” Chopra elaborated.
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
