Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has expressed his belief that Sanju Samson should be given an extended opportunity in the ODI squad. With Rishabh Pant still recovering from injury, Samson’s selection for the upcoming series against West Indies provides him with a great chance to make his case for the ODI World Cup.
Irfan Pathan highlighted Samson’s excellent spin-playing abilities and described him as a “valuable addition” against West Indies. In a tweet, the former cricketer called for Samson to be given a longer run in one-day cricket.
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Meanwhile, the Indian selectors announced the squads for the upcoming tour of West Indies, and veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was left out. The 35-year-old has been going through an extended batting slump, leading to his omission from the 16-member squad for the two-Test series.
Given Pant’s ongoing recovery, it’s time to give Sanju Samson an extended opportunity in one day cricket. With his skills as a proficient middle-order wicketkeeper-batsman and excellent spin-playing abilities, he could prove to be a valuable addition. #INDvWI
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) June 23, 2023
In place of Pujara, young batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been included. Both Jaiswal, 21, and Gaikwad, 26, had impressive performances in the Indian Premier League and are considered as the future of Indian batting. Pujara’s recent struggles, including disappointing scores in the World Test Championship final, contributed to his exclusion from the squad.
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The selectors’ decision to include promising youngsters Jaiswal and Gaikwad indicates a shift towards rejuvenating the Indian batting lineup. The upcoming series against West Indies will provide an opportunity for these young talents to showcase their skills and establish themselves in the Test arena.
India’s ODI squad vs West Indies: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
