Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has aimed his criticism at Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson following his poor performance in the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies. Kaneria said that Samson’s inability to seize the opportunities presented during the tour lies squarely on his own shoulders.
While Samson managed to score a promising 51-run knock in the third ODI against West Indies, his form took a big drop down in the subsequent T20Is, scoring just 32 runs from three innings.
“Sorry to say, but you had enough chances in this series, but you weren’t able to deliver. This is his own fault. The selectors or anyone else shouldn’t be blamed, it was completely his fault. Sanju Samson should blame himself if he remains out of the team for a long time now,” Kaneria remarked on his YouTube channel.
Kaneria’s analysis didn’t stop with Samson, as he questioned the tactical choices made by the Indian team management, particularly their decision regarding Mukesh Kumar. He highlighted the tactical flaw, asserting:
“With Hardik Pandya there, you cannot play Mukesh Kumar, as both of them have a similar pace. Umran Malik bowls very fast, but is wayward. Wouldn’t it have been better if India tried out Umran by playing him in all matches in this series? It would have increased his confidence.”
Mukesh Kumar recently made history by becoming the second Indian player to debut in all three formats on the same tour. However, Kaneria argued that this opportunity could have been better utilized to develop the potential of Umran Malik, whose raw pace could prove to be an asset with proper guidance.
As the Indian cricket team gears up for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland, the spotlight shifts to the tactical choices that will be made by the team management. The observations from Danish Kaneria serve as a reminder of the importance of Umran Malik’s selection and strategic deployment in ensuring the team’s success.