Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has downplayed the possibility of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replacing Sanju Samson in the second T20I against the West Indies. Chopra said Samson’s place can not be questioned after every match. The Kerala batter was dismissed after managing only 11 runs in the opening game of the series.
Samson had also failed to deliver the goods in two matches of the Asian Games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The flamboyant batter had scored only nine runs in these games.
“Since Bihar is in the neighborhood, there is talk of Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Will there be a chance of him playing? No, it won’t be there. You will have to agree that it cannot happen that he plays now, and if we start saying this about Sanju Samson after every match, then we are damned. How will you manage cricket then? Just don’t go there,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra said all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is unlikely to get his chance in the second game.
“I seriously think about Nitish Kumar Reddy for sure. However, I can’t do that either after the first match. I wanted you to play Nitish from the start itself, because how will you prepare him? However, that’s my thinking and might be your thinking as well, but the Indian team is not thinking like that,” he observed.
The renowned commentator added that rookie player Naman Dhir has repaid the team management’s faith in him. Dhir returned with impressive figures of 3-31 in his debut T20I.
“They are ready to move forward with Naman Dhir. Washington Sundar has been given a break and asked to prepare for the Test matches. They have invested in Naman Dhir, and he has not disappointed. He has picked up three wickets, batted very well in the last ODI, and fields very well. He is a very good package. I feel there will be no change. The team that played the previous match will play here as well,” Chopra elaborated.
The former Delhi cricketer said the focus will be on Mayank Yadav, who didn’t have a great game. Yadav returned with figures of 1-40 in his four overs on Tuesday.
“The focus will be on how Mayank Yadav bowls because he has got the pace and bounce. The previous match wasn’t good. Hopefully, he returns to good form. Since we have come to the East, there will be a high chance of dew. So, win the toss and bowl first,” he said.
The second T20I between India and the West Indies will be played on Friday.
