Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has questioned the absence of Sanju Samson from the three-match ODI series against Australia. Kaif reckons Samson would have been a much better option than Dhruv Jurel, who has been picked in the squad.
Samson has scored 510 runs in 16 ODIs at an impressive average of 56.67 and a strike rate of 99.61. But his last ODI appearance came back in 2023 against South Africa when he scored a fine knock of 108 runs off 114 balls at the Boland Park, Paarl. India has picked Dhruv Jurel ahead of Samson in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who continues to recover from a toe injury.
Mohammad Kaif said on a YouTube Live session, “I feel that Dhruv Jurel played really well when he scored that century (against WI). He looked very compact and organized, and he is definitely the future of Indian cricket. He has that ability to score in every match. But leaving out Sanju Samson was a wrong decision because Sanju usually plays in the lower order, around number 5 or 6, and for that position, he is a much better option than Jurel.”
“At that spot, you need someone who can hit sixes, especially against spinners. We saw Sanju Samson’s strength in the Asia Cup. If he had gone to Australia, he would have hit Adam Zampa for maximums. He’s in the top 10 for most sixes in the IPL, and he fits perfectly at number 5 or 6 in Australian conditions. Right now, we tend to focus only on current form, like how well Jurel played recently, and in doing so, we forget players like Sanju who have been performing consistently and are deserving,” he added.
On the other hand, Kaif reckons veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is underrated after he could not find a place in the ODI team. Kaif compared Jadeja with legendary Bollywood actor Dev Anand.
“There was an actor named Dev Anand, known as the “evergreen” star. If that title suits anyone after him, it’s Jadeja. For so many years, he has quietly come in, scored runs in tough situations, and taken wickets. He is the No. 1 all-rounder in Test cricket. He always stays under the radar, people talk the least about him, and I think Jadeja likes that. He prefers to do his work quietly, and that’s why he’s had such a long career.”
Kaif highlighted why Washington Sundar was picked ahead of Jadeja for the Australia series.
“Washington Sundar played one good, quick innings in England, and now the selectors feel that since he’s an off-spinner, he can bowl in the powerplay. Jadeja is a left-arm spinner, and then there’s Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Sundar, being an off-spinner, can bowl with the new ball, especially to Travis Head, and the selectors probably thought that since they already have left-arm options, they should keep another option in the form of Sundar.”
The first ODI between India and Australia will be played on October 19.
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