Sanju Samson was once again trending on Twitter after BCCI announced the squad for T20 World Cup 2022, as well as bilateral series against South Africa and Australia at home. Surprisingly, the Kerala cricketers were not in either team as the selectors preferred Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik.
A section of fans and some former cricketers were astonished to see Sanju being turned down once again. Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria was of the opinion that the 27-year-old should have been considered ahead of Rishabh Pant in the T20 World Cup squad.
Reviewing the Indian team in his latest YouTube video, Kaneria said that Sanju has not been given enough opportunities by the selectors. He said that the wicketkeeper-batsman has done well in whatever limited opportunities he has got.
“It is a little unfair to have someone like Sanju Samson. He should have been included in the T20 World Cup squad. What has he done wrong in not getting the place? He has also been ignored for India’s home series against Australia and South Africa. I would have gone for Samson instead of Rishabh Pant,” said Kaneria.
Despite being backed by Rohit Sharma earlier this year, the wicketkeeper-batsman was again side-lined. Ahead of the Sri Lanka T20I at home in March, the Indian skipper had said that Sanju has great potential and the management is looking at him as a match-winner.
Rohit Sharma said, “As a team management, we see a lot of potential, we see a lot of talent and we see the potential to win a lot of matches in that guy (Sanju Samson).
“His back-foot game is superb, some shots you might have seen during IPL, pick-up pull, cut shot, standing up and getting it over the bowler’s head. It is not easy to play such shots and I believe when we go to Australia you need to have that kind of shot making ability and Samson has that ability. I just hope he makes the most of his potential.”
Coming to the Indian team, Avesh Khan is the only member of the Asia Cup squad that seems to have been turned down, while Ravindra Jadeja is out due to injury. Deepak Chahar and young spinner Ravi Bishnoi have been kept in the standby list along with Mohammed Shami and Shreyas Iyer.
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