Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra slammed Sanju Samson’s critics after India’s four-wicket win against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Thursday. Samson’s place is often questioned by experts and fans as he is sometimes inconsistent with his performances.
New Zealand posted a par score of 225 runs on the board after Shreyas Iyer elected to field first. However, India was given a perfect start with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson hitting the ground running.
Samson scored a blistering knock of 67 runs off 33 balls, including eight fours and four sixes. The Indian opener reached his 11th fifty off just 23 balls and added 93 runs off 35 balls with Abhishek Sharma to put India in a good position in the run chase.
“Before, it was justice for Sanju, now you are saying to remove Sanju. What is going on? Now you are saying there is favoritism and bias. This is his eighth fifty in his last 20 innings. He smashed so much in the first six overs that New Zealand was almost done then and there. Whoever are his critics right now, for the time being, please have your fingers on your lips. No talking anymore. He is batting brilliantly. Let’s be a little more lenient,” Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The renowned commentator also praised Indian captain Shreyas Iyer for scoring 42 runs off 28 balls
“Shreyas Iyer played well. He likes playing in New Zealand. It looked like India tapered off a bit at one point, but he was there, and he was good.”
On the other hand, Chopra was not sure how to rate Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance after the veteran pacer conceded 49 runs in his quota of four overs and went wicketless. The renowned commentator said India can think of playing a spinner in the second game.
“I don’t know how to rate Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s comeback. He also gave away 49 runs from four overs. His first over was good, but he also got hit after that. I actually liked how Mayank Yadav bowled. He was good. Was this an opportunity to try a few overs from Naman Dhir? They did not at all. New Zealand played more spinners than we did. Maybe we should play one more,” he said.
The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Saturday.
