Sanju Samson can play a crucial role for Team Indin in the upcoming Asia Cup tournament, says Mohammad Kaif.
During the ODI series against the West Indies, Team India decided to experiment and gave some players a chance while resting captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the last two games. The first match in Barbados was won by India. Sanju Samson was among those who benefitted from this opportunity and made the most of it by showcasing an excellent performance.
In the decisive third ODI in Trinidad on August 1, Samson played a crucial role. After a disappointing outing in the second ODI, he must have felt immense pressure to perform in the third game. However, he didn’t let the pressure get to him, and instead, he played a brilliant innings, scoring a quickfire half-century off just 41 balls. His 51 runs contributed significantly to India’s imposing total of 351 runs in the first innings. As a result, India went on to win the match comfortably, bundling out the West Indies for 151 runs.
Sanju Samson’s outstanding display caught the attention of former India cricketer, Mohammad Kaif. Kaif praised the right-hand batter, impressed by his ability to play spin well and considering him ready for the upcoming World Cup.
“I am very, very impressed with Sanju Samson. The way he played the last game was impactful and he has done that in the past as well whether at four or five. Sending Ishan (Kishan) or probably Axar (Patel) at number four isn’t really a good idea. You need a batter (at number 4 or 5) who can play left-arm spin as well as leg spin and Sanju Samson has that kind of ability,” Kaif was quoted as saying by News18 CricketNext.
“If you look at the last game (vs WI), he knew it was a do-or-die game and had the understanding, if he didn’t perform well, he won’t be included in the World Cup squad. Samson’s knock in the third ODI came under pressure and he is ready for the World Cup.”
Comments 2