Legendary Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev has urged the fans not to draw comparisons between Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson after the 32-year-old witnessed a rough patch in the recently-concluded ODI series against Australia. Suryakumar was dismissed for three consecutive golden ducks in the series against the Aussies as fans have been extremely critical and called for Samson to be included in the ODI team instead of the Mumbai batter.

Samson has an average of 66 in the 11 ODIs he has played as compared to Suryakumar’s 24.05 from 23 games. However, Kapil Dev feels that comparing both cricketers doesn’t seem right. Speaking to ABP News, the former Indian skipper urged the fans not to compare Samson and Suryakumar. Kapil Dev also said that if the team management has decided to support Suryakumar, then he should be given more chances.

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Explaining the same, Kapil Dev said, “A cricketer who has played so well will always get more chances. Don’t compare Surya with Sanju Samson, it doesn’t seem right. If Sanju goes through a bad phase then you will talk about somebody else. This should not happen. If the team management has decided to back Suryakumar Yadav then he should be given more chances. Yes, people will talk, give their opinion but ultimately it’s the management’s call.”

Kapil Dev also came in support of India’s coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma for their decision to send in Suryakumar at No.7 during the Chennai ODI as he felt the duo wanted the Mumbai batter to play the role of a finisher in the game.

Elaborating the same, Kapil Dev said, “It’s very easy to talk after the match is finished. Maybe the idea behind sending Suryakumar at No.7 was to give him an opportunity as a finisher. This (shuffling of the batting order) is nothing new in ODIs. This has happened many times before.”

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He further explained, “Yes, at times it can happen that a batter’s confidence is dented if he has been dragged down the order. But the onus rests on the player to tell his captain that ‘I can handle myself in the top order.’ The coach and captain must have taken the decision with particular thinking.”