India’s talented wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was named in the squad for the three-match T20I series against the New Zealand national cricket team.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to feature in any of the games in the series. The T20I series opener between Team India and New Zealand cricket team was abandoned without a ball being bowled owing to bad weather.
The rain kept on pouring in across all quarters of Wellington and as a result, the game saw no result. However, in the second T20I, Team India beat New Zealand by 65 runs at Bay Oval to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
During the second game, Rishabh Pant was preferred ahead of Sanju Samson. Pant was sent to open the innings for India but failed to make his presence count in the powerplay overs.
The wicketkeeper-batsman took so much time at the crease and didn’t seem in upbeat mode when he came out to bat as an opener. He was dismissed cheaply by Lockie Ferguson and he could score 6 off 13 balls.
Sanju Samson played only 16 matches since T20I debut in 2015
Talking about the third game between the Men in Blue and the Black Caps, everyone expected that the team management would include Sanju Samson in the playing XI after Rishabh Pant’s poor show in the second game.
Needless to say, the management went with Rishabh Pant ahead of Sanju Samson. For the unversed, Samson has played only 16 games ever since he made his T20I debut in the year 2015.
On the other side of the coin, Rishabh Pant played as many as 65 games ever since he made his debut in 2017. Pant scored 976 runs at a terrible batting average of 22.70 including 3 half-centuries.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson scored 296 runs at an average of 21.14 including one half-century.
Here’s how Twitterati reacted:-
Sanju Samson T20I debut in 2015 – Played only 16 matches
Rishabh Pant T20I debut in 2017 – Played 65 matches#SanjuSamson
— Raju Jangid (@imRJangid) November 22, 2022
Bcci is to Samson what Karan Johar is to non-star kids.
— Jinesh (@jinnraj1) November 22, 2022
Because Pant is a better batter than Samson and Pant has utilized his opportunities more than that of Samson.
— ПВ КРИШНА (@impvkrishna) November 22, 2022
I don’t know what’s obsession with pant , somehow team management wants to fit him in team somewhere
— Pradeep Gudipati 🇮🇳 (@Pradeepcric91) November 22, 2022
Rishabh Pant > Sanju Samson
— Shaiban Mukadam (@mukadam_shaiban) November 22, 2022
Because Pant is a better batter than Samson and Pant has utilized his opportunities more than that of Samson.
— ПВ КРИШНА (@impvkrishna) November 22, 2022
Can you name atleast 10 matches in that 65 ,where he utilizes that chances .
— lolakulu (@gladiat67543218) November 22, 2022
This comparison is irrelevant. Both have to play. According to me very few wicketkeepers have the stamina to keep wickets and open the innings. Pant as WK and batting at 5 with SS as WK and batting at 3 would be ideal.
— udayachandran menon (@kausay8) November 22, 2022
Common thing both have same type of careless player
— Ek kaafir , (@D12321Op) November 22, 2022
