Former India batter and JioStar expert Cheteshwar Pujara has expressed support for Sanju Samson who has faced questions about his patchy performances in T20 cricket.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s Out or Not Out, Pujara explained that one impactful knock could be enough for the wicketkeeper-batter to rediscover his confidence and touch. He also pointed out that ups and downs are inevitable in the shortest format, adding that excessive emphasis on consistent returns from top-order players may not always be justified in T20 cricket.
Why does Cheteshwar Pujara consider consistency overrated for top-order T20 batters?
‘He is never out of form. The kind of player Sanju Samson is in the T20 format, his form fluctuates. But it is always a matter of one innings. He plays one good innings, and he is back in form. So, you cannot say that this player is not in form. In the T20 format, you are bound to have failures. Who doesn’t get out in T20s? Consistency should be there, but for top-order batters, I think consistency is overrated in T20s,’ Pujara said.
How did Sanju Samson perform in the recent T20I series against the West Indies?
Sanju Samson delivered a notable performance in India’s five match T20I contest against the West Indies accumulating 168 runs including a pair of half-centuries to finish as the team’s second-leading run-getter in the series.
Can Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play together in New Zealand?
Cheteshwar Pujara also weighed in on whether Samson could share India’s playing XI with 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the forthcoming T20I leg against New Zealand. He suggested that accommodating both players in the same lineup might prove challenging depending on India’s team balance and the playing conditions.
How will conditions in New Zealand influence India’s selection strategy?
Cheteshwar Pujara explained that the conditions in New Zealand might prompt India to strengthen their lineup with more all-rounders potentially reducing the spots available for specialist batters at the top of the order. India’s five matches T20I campaign against New Zealand is scheduled to get underway on October 22 in Christchurch.
Why might India pick either Sanju Samson or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the top order?
‘Vaibhav playing every game seems a bit difficult in New Zealand because you need more all-rounders there, either a spin-bowling all-rounder or a seam-bowling all-rounder. So, you don’t need too many specialist batters, especially in the top order. Either Sanju Samson can open or Vaibhav. I don’t think both can be part of the playing XI in New Zealand conditions,’ Pujara said.
What factors could open up a spot for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the series?
Cheteshwar Pujara added that Sooryavanshi could feature in the series if India’s combination demands it with selection likely to depend on the conditions, the team’s needs and the fitness of available players.
How does Cheteshwar Pujara see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s opportunities unfolding?
‘So, Vaibhav will have to wait, but he will get opportunities. It’s not that he won’t play a single match in the entire series. I am not saying that. If a spot opens up for him based on conditions or a player’s fitness, that’s fine. But both Sanju and Vaibhav cannot be in the playing XI in New Zealand,’ he added.
What is the context of India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand?
India are set to embark on a multi-format assignment in New Zealand with the T20I leg kicking off the tour. The upcoming contest will be the two sides’ first bilateral series featuring multiple formats in six years. India head into the tour after their five matches T20I encounter with the West Indies concluded in a 2-2 stalemate.