‘Sanju Samson will not be able to play now’ – Aakash Chopra ahead of second West Indies ODI

Former India opener Aakash Chopra feels that Sanju Samson will not get to play in the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies. India and West Indies will lock horns in the second ODI of the three-game series on Saturday, July 29 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The tourists took a 1-0 lead in the series, having won the first game by five wickets.

Ahead of the second ODI, Chopra said that Samson cannot play in the remainder of the series as the wicketkeeper-batter was left out of the Playing XI of the opening match. He also reckoned that the team will not ask Ishan Kishan to bat at number four. 

“There might be a question in your mind that can Sanju play. Sanju Samson will not be able to play now. It is because only one match has happened, you didn’t play him in the first match and you didn’t get Ishan Kishan to bat at No. 4 as well,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

The 45-year-old went on to say that Samson won’t be included in the playing XI despite the outrage on social media.

“You are thinking about Suryakumar Yadav to bat at No. 6 at the moment. So no matter how much outrage is there, this story is not going to fly at this point in time. It is a slightly unfortunate fact that Sanju Samson will not get a chance.”

To challenge yourself, bat first if you win the toss: Chopra

Chopra urged India to take up the challenge to bat first if they win the toss as it will help them in the forthcoming World Cup at home. The cricketer-turned-commentator also wants the Men in Blue to go with their normal batting order. 

“To challenge yourself, bat first if you win the toss. It might be slightly difficult at the start but how else do you challenge yourself? How will you prepare for the World Cup if you do the easy jobs?” After that, go with your normal batting order, in which keep Ishan Kishan at No. 4. Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and then Ishan Kishan at No. 4 because you have kept him there. It is important to play players where you want to play them,” he said.