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Ravichandran Ashwin Explains Why Sanju Samson Doesn’t Fit In India’s ODI XI – While at one end Australia have announced their preliminary squad for the World Cup 2023 already, India are huffing and puffing at the moment, unsure and uncertain as to what would their best XI look like, let alone their best 15-man squad.
The injuries to two key middle-order players – KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer – have put a spanner in the plans of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, forcing them to try out some of the fringe players in the recent series against West Indies.
One of those fringe players is Kerala and Rajasthan Royals superstar Sanju Samson.
R Ashwin says there is “no space” for Sanju Samson in World Cup team
Sanju Samson hit an impressive fifty in the 3rd ODI against the West Indies. He has brilliant numbers in ODI cricket: in 12 ODI innings, Samson averages 55 with 3 fifties to his name.
However, senior India off-spinner R Ashwin explained in his YouTube video why Sanju Samson is unlikely to be picked in India’s best XI in the Asia Cup and in the World Cup.
“When it comes to Team India, the number 3 and 4 slot is not open. Given Sanju’s ability and talent, we know he can change the course of he game at any point. He is a very good guy and we all want good for him. But the role we expect from Sanju when it comes to Team India is different. There is no space for him in the Top 4. Whether there will be a spot for him after the World Cup or after one or two years after the World Cup, we will have to wait and watch,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin reckons only if one of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are injured or unavailable for the World Cup, then only Samson could come in the side.
“Because Virat at 3 is a fix. Rohit and Gill are also fixed as openers. Shreyas and KL are also absolute certainties when they are fit. We need a keeper-batter alone as a backup. So, if one of KL or Shreyas is not available they need a backup at 4 or 5. But Sanju is not doing that role in IPL. He is starting to do that role only in ODIs and he has scored a 50 in that role now. That’s good news for him and Team India. I feel Sanju Samson will be ahead in the contingency plan as far as the ODI World Cup is concerned and Tilak Varma is almost there,” the off-spinner concluded.
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