Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra names Shikhar Dhawan and Sanju Samson as two pillars for Team India going into the T20I series decider. India will play the final T20I against Sri Lanka on Thursday evening after they lost the second game by four wickets.
Indian skipper Shikhar Dhawan admitted after the defeat that they were playing with a batsman short. Team India named four debutants during the second T20I, resulting in only five batsmen and six bowlers were playing in the lineup.
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Aakash Chopra believes Dhawan and Sanju Samson will act as two pillars for their team during the series decider.
“Dhawan and Sanju Samson will be the pillars of the batting lineup in the final T20I. What the others like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Rana score will be a bonus. If Dhawan and Sanju Samson take India to a par score, then you never know what can happen. This Sri Lankan team doesn’t know how to cross the finish line. Even in the second T20I, they got stuck a bit,” Chopra said in his YouTube channel after India lost the 2nd T20I by four wickets.
Dhawan has been in good form on this tour and made 42-ball 40 runs in the second T20I. However, Samson hasn’t fared well on international cricket and looked out of a clue during the second game with his 13-ball knock of 7 runs.
Aakash Chopra, though, backs Samson to play well in the series decider.
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“Shikhar Dhawan needs to keep playing in a sensible manner that he has been doing. I am still hopeful of Sanju Samson doing well. I know he is not batting at the position that he is comfortable at. Sanju Samson has only played nine matches,” Aakash Chopra further added.
“You have expectations from those players who, you know, have the capability. Sanju Samson has that ability to perform. He is comparatively more experienced compared to the others, maybe not at the international level but definitely in the IPL. He has been playing the IPL for a long time and is even the captain of a franchise (Rajasthan Royals). I have high hopes from him.”
Sri Lanka clinched the second T20I by four wickets to force the series decider. The final game of this tour will take place on Thursday in Colombo.
