Sanju Samson's disappointing form in the ongoing T20I series against England continues as he fell early once again, this time to a short delivery from Jofra Archer in the third T20I in Rajkot. Fans on Twitter expressed their frustration with his string of poor performances after a strong run in previous matches. Despite early wickets, India need 94 more runs off 60 deliveries to secure another T20I series win.
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.
In the series opener, left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma stole the show with a stunning display of power hitting. His unbeaten 79 runs off just 34 balls included eight sixes and five fours, helping India chase down a modest total of 132 with ease. Sharma's incredible hitting was praised by coach Ravi Shastri and his partnership with Sanju Samson proved to be crucial in India's victory. England will have a tough task ahead if they want to level the series in the next match.
In the first T20 match between India and England, the Indian team put on an impressive performance, chasing down a target of 133 runs with ease to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite initial struggles against Jofra Archer, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma put on strong batting displays to help secure the win. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the standout player of the match, picking up three crucial wickets and being named Player of the Match. With five more matches to go, the series is sure to deliver more exciting moments.
England's Jofra Archer was the star of the show as he dismissed both Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav in the fifth over of the match. The seamer delivered a well-directed short ball that caught both batsmen off guard and resulted in their wickets. His efforts were crucial in England's victory as they managed to defend their total of 132, with Jos Buttler scoring 68 runs. India, on the other hand, fell short of their target despite a valiant effort from captain Virat Kohli, who scored 71 runs.
Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav calls Gambhir a mind-reader, credits him for keeping things simple and maintaining a positive atmosphere in the dressing room. He also mentions the importance of having Gambhir as the coach for the T20 World Cup preparations and expresses confidence in his ability to build a successful team. Additionally, he backs Sanju Samson as India's top wicketkeeper choice for the upcoming series against England.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been left out of India's upcoming ODI squad for England series and the 2025 Champions Trophy, despite strong performances in 2024. This decision has garnered criticism, with Gautam Gambhir's old remarks about backing Samson resurfacing. In a 2020 interview, Gambhir had expressed disappointment at India not giving Samson enough opportunities, stating that it was India's loss to not have him in the team.
The much-awaited Indian team for the upcoming England ODIs and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been announced, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant being the only two wicketkeeping options. This decision raised eyebrows as Sanju Samson, who scored a century in his last ODI appearance and was expected to be a strong contender, was left out. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment over this snub, stating that Samson deserves to be in the team for his achievements. India's captain Rohit Sharma also expressed his confidence in the team's ability to bring the Champions Trophy to Wankhede Stadium.
The exclusion of Sanju Samson from the Vijay Hazare Trophy may have cost him a spot in the Indian cricket team for the 2025 Champions Trophy. While he was selected for the T20I squad, he was not chosen for the 50-over squad due to his absence from the domestic tournament. Kerala Cricket Association president Jayesh George expressed disappointment and stated that Samson had failed to respect the association's policy. This decision raises questions about the selection process and the importance of consistency in representing your state team.
The Indian cricket team's recent announcement of their Champions Trophy squad has sparked controversy over the selection of Shubman Gill as the Vice-Captain. Former player Gautam Gambhir has voiced his support for Hardik Pandya, leading to conflicting opinions on team dynamics and performance. In addition, there is also a rift over the wicketkeeper-batter selection, with Gambhir advocating for Sanju Samson while the Captain and chief selector favour Rishabh Pant. This decision-making process has raised questions among fans about favouritism and the team's interest.