Sanju Samson’s childhood coach Biju feels that Indian wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant is getting undue hate on social media. He said that even though Samson is not getting chances but it isn’t the end of the road for them as his time will come.
“What’s happening on social media is that people are turning against Rishabh Pant for no reason,” says Sanju Samson’s coach
The clouds are really hovering over the place of Rishabh Pant in the Indian team. His continuous failures in the T20Is have put his place under scanner even in the ODIs despite having a good record in the 50-over format. The keeper batter was India’s first-choice player in all three formats but of late nothing has been going his way.
With Sanju Samson also in the side, many have started to lash out at Pant for blocking his way. They feel that the southpaw is a burden for Team as his performances are not up to the mark and it is because of him Samson has been sidelined.
In the ongoing New Zealand tour, Pant was preferred over Samson and was given the opportunity to open the innings in the T20I series. But he failed to grab the spot as he bagged failures in both matches. Both of them then were part of the first ODI but the right-hander was replaced for a team combination in the second game as India lacked the 6th bowling option.
Sanju vs Pant:
Sanju Samson T20I debut in 2015 – Played 16 matches
AdvertisementRishabh Pant T20I debut in 2017 – Played 65 matches
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Samson played decently in the first game, scoring 36 runs and helping his team post a total of over 300 runs. Whereas Pant likes scratchy and managed just 16 runs. Following this, the southpaw received a lot of flak with many raising calls to drop him.
With Samson vs Pant debate hogging the headlines these days, Sanju’s coach feels that the left-hander is getting unnecessary hate. He feels there is no competition between the two batters as both have different roles. He said:
“Now what’s happening on social media is that people are turning against Rishabh Pant for no reason. Pant is there because he has performed over a long period of time. And see there is no clash between Pant and Sanju Samson. Samson has been playing and can play for India as a pure batter. Pant’s keeping skills are very very good.
“If you look over a period of time, Pant has not done a major lapse or fumble behind the stumps. He has come good for India in both red and white ball over a long period of time. He might have a slump now… When you talk about impact players like Adam Gilchrist or Virender Sehwag. They must get a levy to fail.”
“Political leaders in Kerala think cricket is another game of politics and are saying Sanju is victimised,” Biju not happy with politics playing role in Sanju’s career
Samson’s coach further went on to say that he’s not happy with political spin given to Sanju’s cricketing journey. He said that: “What I am not liking is how the mallu crowd is putting Sanju Samson against BCCI, and belittling Rishabh Pant. It is very wrong and not at all on. Political leaders in Kerala think cricket is another game of politics and are saying Sanju is victimised.
“No, not at all. I don’t believe so and it’s just that circumstances are not working in his favour. He is not being deliberately targeted. I don’t think anybody in the Indian cricketing system would be deliberately targeted. Somebody like a VVS Laxman is the coach, I don’t see that happening.”
It remains to be seen if Sanju Samson will be given opportunity or not when India will face New Zealand in the third T20I on Wednesday (30th November).
