Wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik feels Sanju Samson should play at number 6 for Team India in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. The first of the three ODIs will take place on Friday, November 25 at Eden Park in Auckland. Team India won the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand. However, Sanju Samson failed to make it to the XI in the T20I series.
Team India went in with Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant as the wicket-keeping options. Ishan Kishan managed 46 runs in two matches, while Rishabh Pant scored just 17 at an average of 8.50. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer too failed to make an impact in the series, as he scored just 13 runs in two innings.
Sanju Samson has only played 10 ODI matches so far. He has scored 294 runs at an average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 106.13, with two half-centuries, including a highest score of 86. The wicket-keeper batter is likely to get an opportunity in the upcoming New Zealand series.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik predicted India’s playing combination for the ODI match. He expressed that Samson is a proven player in the lower middle order. Karthik added that Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur will be the two all-rounders, followed by three pacers. He said,
“I feel Shikhar and Shubman will open, Shreyas will bat at No.3, and you get the feeling that Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav will follow them at No.4, and No.5. Samson is a great proven player at No.6. Then you have the five bowlers to follow.”
“I think that Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur will definitely be given an opportunity. Then the three pacers to follow,” he added.
Team India would not mind trying more: Dinesh Karthik
Team India played a similar combination in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand. However, wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik expressed that Team India will be trying out different options in the upcoming ODI series. He opined that at least 13-14 players will get an opportunity in this series. Dinesh Karthik said,
“I think in this ODI series, Team India would not mind trying more because Shikhar Dhawan knows he is not going to be the full-time captain. He would be relaxed with the result. I think this will be a series where we will at least see 13-14 players from India.”
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