Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed concern over wicket-keeper Sanju Samson's struggles against express pace, pointing out his failure to score runs or preserve his wicket against fast deliveries. Despite Samson's struggles, Tilak Varma's unbeaten 72 helped India chase down a 166-run target in the second T20I against England. Aakash Chopra also highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's lean patch and praised Washington Sundar for his vital contributions in the match. The analyst concluded that India has concerns in their batting lineup heading into the third T20I.
Sanju Samson's Struggles Against Express Pace Worry Former India Opener Aakash Chopra
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed concern over wicket-keeper Sanju Samson's recent struggles against express pace, noting his inability to score runs or preserve his wicket against fast deliveries.
Samson's batting woes were evident in India's second T20I against England, where he was dismissed for a second-ball duck by England pacer Reece Topley. This came after a disappointing performance in the first T20I, where he scored just 15 runs.
Samson's Past Struggles Against Pace
Samson's struggles against pace have been a recurring issue throughout his career. In the 2022 IPL, he averaged just 18.50 against pacers, compared to 34.54 against spinners.
In T20 internationals, Samson has a batting average of 20.93 against pacers, compared to 30.15 against spinners.
Concerns for Team India
Chopra's concerns stem from the fact that Samson is seen as a potential replacement for Rishabh Pant in the Indian team. However, if he continues to struggle against express pace, it could limit his opportunities in international cricket.
Positive Contributions from Tilak Varma
Despite Samson's struggles, India still managed to chase down a 166-run target against England in the second T20I, thanks to an unbeaten 72 from Tilak Varma.
Varma's innings was a reminder of his potential, and he could be an option for India in the middle order going forward.
Other Notable Points
Top 5 FAQs and Answers Related to Sanju Samson
1. What is Sanju Samson's current form against express pace?
Samson has been struggling against express pace recently, averaging just 18.50 against pacers in the 2022 IPL and 20.93 in T20 internationals.
2. What is the reason for Samson's struggles against pace?
Chopra believes that Samson's struggles against pace may be due to technical deficiencies in his batting technique.
3. Is Samson's place in the Indian team threatened by his struggles?
Samson's struggles against pace could limit his opportunities in the Indian team, especially if Rishabh Pant continues to perform well.
4. Who could replace Samson in the Indian team?
Tilak Varma is a potential option to replace Samson in the middle order, as he has shown impressive form in recent T20I matches.
5. What are Samson's strengths as a batsman?
Despite his struggles against pace, Samson remains a talented batsman with a reputation for his power and strokeplay.
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