Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Tilak Varma’s unavailability for the final two T20Is against New Zealand is a blessing in disguise for Sanju Samson as well. He added that Samson is now likely to get two more chances as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “Tilak Varma might not be available for these two games, which means he will join the team before the World Cup, which is a great thing actually, because Sanju Samson will get two more opportunities here. Now you will see both Sanju and Ishan Kishan playing. One of the games is at Sanju’s home. It is in Thiruvananthapuram.”

“It was necessary for him to get two more chances because if we hadn’t pivoted in the Asia Cup and Sanju had kept opening, he might not have been feeling this pressure at this time, because it’s unfair. If he had kept opening, either you would have become a hero or gone out. So good news for Sanju and his fans that there are two more games,” he further added.

READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli

However, Aakash Chopra also added that Sanju Samson is being given proper chances despite his struggles as well.

“Nobody can actually argue or complain that full chances weren’t given, although the truth is that Sanju is struggling. We are seeing that clearly. He is going deep into the crease and getting beaten and out to full deliveries. It’s happened in three consecutive innings. This happens with Sanju. When he gets out, he keeps getting out cheaply,” he said.

“I recall the England series, five innings and he got out almost similarly all five times. Here also, it’s been three innings, and in all three, almost deep inside the crease, and twice caught and once bowled. So it happens together. It’s either a century or a duck, his story has been like that. He needs to grab this opportunity because if we check out Sanju Samson’s last 15 innings, there is a lot of issue. It’s been up and down a lot. I think one 50-plus score is all there is, and that too probably came against Oman. So it’s not a great story for Sanju. However, these two games will keep him in good stead. Maybe just the final thing, do or disappear,” Aakash Chopra concluded.