Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin questioned Shai Hope’s leadership after the second T20I between India and the West Indies at Ranchi. Ashwin slammed Hope’s tactics of using Akeal Hosein for three overs in the Powerplay and consistently using him against Sanju Samson.
Samson faced 13 deliveries against the left-arm orthodox spinner and scored 35 runs. The Indian opener eventually went on to score a fine knock of 82 runs off 41 balls. India posted 249 runs on the board but could not defend the score after Shai Hope scored a superb century.
Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “Samson looked scratchy because he was not in a run-scoring phase. However, Shai Hope also made a mistake. You cannot keep using spinners from one end in an attempt to build pressure on Sanju Samson. Bowling three consecutive overs from Akeal Hosein during the powerplay was like serving a hungry lion a goat on a platter. Samson simply took advantage of the opportunity and went after Akeal Hosein.”
Ashwin praised Samson for taking the aggressive approach for the team despite returning with a string of low scores in the previous matches.
He added, “It is not easy to maintain that attitude. It is human nature that when you are in danger and know that you might be dropped, self-preservation becomes the top priority. Yet, he continues to take risks for the team. And it is this great attitude of his that seems to be bringing him some luck as well. A catch went straight into a fielder’s hands today, but he dropped it.”
The former CSK all-rounder said Samson is a kind of a player who would win matches for the team when he gets going.
He concluded, “Some players have an easier journey, while others have a more difficult one. Sanju Samson is one of those players whose journey has had a lot of ups and downs. Honestly, he is the kind of player who can win you games whenever he gets going.”
Samson was dismissed cheaply after scoring only three runs in the third T20I at Indore.
