In a strategic move, Team India took an experimental route during their ODI series against the West Indies. After securing victory in the opening match in Barbados, the team opted to rest star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the subsequent two games. Amidst this calculated shuffle, emerging talent Sanju Samson seized the opportunity to shine, delivering a scintillating half-century in the decisive third ODI in Trinidad on August 1.
Having faced a lackluster outing in the second ODI, the spotlight was undoubtedly on Samson as he walked out to bat in the third game. However, he displayed remarkable composure under pressure, crafting a swift 51 off 41 balls. His exceptional performance powered India to a formidable total of 351 in the first innings, a total that laid the foundation for a comprehensive dismissal of the West Indies, who managed a modest 151 in response.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, renowned for his insightful analysis, was effusive in his praise for Samson’s talent. He singled out the Rajasthan Royals captain’s proficiency against spin and expressed confidence in his World Cup readiness.
“I am very, very impressed with Sanju Samson. The way he played the last game was impactful and he has done that in the past as well whether at four or five. Sending Ishan (Kishan) or probably Axar (Patel) at number four isn’t really a good idea. You need a batter (at number 4 or 5) who can play left-arm spin as well as leg spin and Sanju Samson has that kind of ability,” Kaif was quoted as saying by News18 CricketNext.
Highlighting the significance of Samson’s performance under pressure, Kaif added, “If you look at the last game (vs WI), he knew it was a do-or-die game and had the understanding, if he didn’t perform well, he won’t be included in the World Cup squad. Samson’s knock in the third ODI came under pressure and he is ready for the World Cup.”
While refraining from drawing far-reaching conclusions from India’s West Indies tour, Mohammad Kaif acknowledged India’s recent challenges. He stressed the importance of fielding the strongest possible XI during the Asia Cup—a critical platform for evaluating potential players for the impending World Cup and establishing backup plans.
“I won’t really judge the team and the team combination on the basis of the West Indies tour. The West Indies team is itself struggling, they haven’t qualified for the World Cup (ODI) even. But I would say that the Indian team should play their best XI in the Asia Cup. I would like to see what team they play in the Asia Cup & who are the players who will be in the squad of 15. If you want to pick the 15, you will have to be very sure about the players who will be in the XI & who are your backups,” Kaif concluded.
