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'He Might Get the Opportunity...': Wasim Jaffer Bats for Sanju Samson's Inclusion in ODI Squad

image-lkkyu20dSanju Samson has impressed in his short ODI career so far (BCCI)

Team India is set to launch its World Cup 2023 dress rehearsal with a white-ball series against West Indies. The team management, considering the absence of first-choice wicketkeepers KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, recalled Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson into the squad for the ODI and T20I matches in the Caribbean, set to be played between July 27 and August 13.

Even though Kishan proved his ODI mettle with a scintillating double hundred late last year, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer believes the management will prefer Samson in the playing XI. The cricketer-turned-coach also suggested a change in the batting order for out-of-form Suryakumar Kumar in ODIs.

Jaffer gives his take on Kishan vs Samson

Wasim Jaffer, while speaking on ESPNCricinfo, predicted that Sanju Samson might be preferred over Ishan Kishan for the crucial games in the lead up to the World Cup 2023. Jaffer believes that Team India already has a settled opening pair with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, which leaves out specialist opener Kishan from the playing XI.

The former cricketer said:

“It could be both (Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson) of them. That's the test they are going to face up until the World Cup team is going to get selected. For Sanju Samson, I feel he might get the opportunity first in this series, and it's huge games leading up to the World Cup for him. Because Ishan Kishan bats top of the order, they have got Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill there so Ishan Kishan might not get the opportunity as of now.”

The Ranji Trophy legend also left a suggestion for Suryakumar Yadav amidst his ODI struggles off late. While the dynamic Mumbai Indians batter set the T20I podium ablaze quite early in his career, he is yet to replicate his success in 50-overs internationals for India.

Jaffer believes Yadav should be demoted down the batting order to number six, because that’s the position in which he plays with much success in T20Is as well.

“In my opinion, the best position for Suryakumar Yadav in ODIs are No.5 and No.6. I would start with him at No.6 in the first ODI. Once he gets going there...because that's how he plays in T20 cricket also, he bats at No.3 or No.4, but the overs are a little shorter. So, once he gets the hang of it in ODIs, I think No.4 is a little too early for him. If he starts scoring, then I would think of him moving up the order at No.5, or even further.”

The first ODI between India and West Indies will take place on July 27 from Kensington Oval, Barbados.