Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra said there could be an arm wrestle for a top-order slot between Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Chopra is hopeful that both batters score runs for the team in the second T20I against New Zealand.
While Samson returned to the opening slot, Kishan made a comeback to the team after three years in the opening game against the Kiwis. Samson was dismissed for 10 runs, whereas Kishan got out after scoring eight runs. Both the batters had soft dismissals and would want to bounce back in the second T20I.
“Is there anything to correct? I still feel Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Ideally, this conversation shouldn’t have happened, and it wouldn’t have happened either had Sanju Samson been playing continuously and scoring runs. One wouldn’t have sat with a magnifying glass,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“However, since fortune is with Ishan Kishan at the moment and the way things have changed, if Sanju Samson scores runs, it’s great, but if he doesn’t and Ishan scores runs, it will be a point of discussion whether Ishan can be played in place of Sanju Samson. So, I just hope that both score runs,” he added.
On the other hand, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored 32 runs off 22 balls. Chopra expects the right-hander to score more runs and return to his best form ahead of the World Cup.
“You want a few more runs from Suryakumar Yadav because form can truly be judged only if he scores 50, 60, 70, or 100 runs. If those runs aren’t scored, then that is a problem with bad form, if you have not spent enough time on the pitch,” he said.
The renowned commentator cited Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s examples and urged SKY to spend more time in the middle.
“That happened with Rohit Sharma in Adelaide. He stood there and played a lot of balls. It happened with Virat Kohli in Sydney. He stood there and once someone plays a lot of balls, he comes in form. However, if you get out for 30-odd after playing 20-odd balls, then if you have two innings with low scores, you are back to square one. That’s why it’s necessary for him to score runs,” Chopra observed.
The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Raipur on Friday.
