After a rare start for Sanju Samson in the first ODI of the three-match series between New Zealand and India, the 28-year-old batter was dropped again, despite scoring 36 runs, from the playing 11 for the second game.
Indian captain Shikhar Dhawan lost the toss and was asked to bat first by opposition skipper Kane Williamson. Then Dhawan told the broadcasters that they have made two changes in their starting XI. One was Shardul Thakur making way for Deepak Chahar and the other was Deepak Hooda replacing Samson as a six bowling option.
“We would have bowled first as there’s moisture in the wicket. Even in the last game the wicket was seaming for the first 10-15 overs, we got to keep the positive intent and go for the runs. We got 2 changes. Instead of Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar comes in and Deepak Hooda comes in place of Sanju Samson,” Dhawan said at the toss.
“We only need 10 percent of improvement and it makes a huge impact and especially in the death bowling, we got to be a bit more smarter,” he added.
Indian fans seemed to be unhappy with Samson being left out of the playing 11 yet again. Sanju has failed to get a consistent run-in in the side, and after his benching, many called for ‘out of form’ Rishabh Pant to be dropped from the ODI as well as T20I team.
Here are the reactions:
This is horrible. Sanju has to sit out even after doing well in ODIs. What else this guy needs to do yaar. Absolute favoritism.
— Praful VK (@Prafu4u) November 27, 2022
#SanjuSamson axed again !!! 😡
Poor guy…. He's the easy choice of @BCCI, Whenever needed can easily snub him for their favorite players. Politics and favoritism at its peak in #BCCI
There's no one to ask or raise voice against BCCI for Sanju Samson.
#NZvIND @iRogerBinny pic.twitter.com/05L0UJUVOv
— Rohit (@___Invisible_1) November 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/AvinashArya09/status/1596692318186221570
Sanju Samson was dropped again. Like Rishabh Pant, give him chance in at least 10-15 matches and then see his results.#SanjuSamson #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/5HaZIcZnSr
— Raju Jangid (@imRJangid) November 27, 2022
Rishab Pant is still playing @RishabhPant17 😤 without even scoring runs and #SanjuSamson who scored runs is being dropped. Shame. #NZvIND
— 🏹 (@iarjun_) November 27, 2022
It is really hard to be #SanjuSamson at the moment. Dropped, I know it's for the team balance, and I do find sense in dropping a player for someone who can roll his arm over. But pains to see Samson being benched. #INDvNZ
— Vishesh Roy (@vroy38) November 27, 2022
Sanju Dropped for 6th bowling Option And Pant playing for Vice captaincy 😑#SanjuSamson #RishabhPant #NZvsIND #2ndOdi pic.twitter.com/uskSrTRnON
— SACHIN MAHESHWARI (@Sachin_Gandhi7) November 27, 2022
#SanjuSamson
No Godfather in Selection Comittee
How a player feel last match he played well and the next game he is out of the team
One more thing last game failures get the next match also
It's enough you don't pick Sanju for any series and also don't do it anyone else.Hurted pic.twitter.com/pnjvtHy1CV— 🅰🅹🅸🆃🅷 🅽🅰🆁🅰🆈🅰🅽🅰🅽 (@AjithNa49153322) November 27, 2022
Sanju Samson dropped from India's playing XI once again!#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/xoPejbKRPi
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) November 27, 2022
