IND vs SA 2022: Wasim Jaffer, a former cricketer who is now a pundit, thinks that despite their strong showings in the ODI series against South Africa, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are insufficient to take Rishabh Pant’s place in India’s 50-over squad.
To bolster his argument, Jaffer cited Pant’s unbeaten 125 (113) in the third ODI match against England at Old Trafford in July. Samson should be included in India’s ODI plans moving forward, but “not at the cost of” Pant, he continued.
The former hitter said when questioned by ESPNcricinfo if Kishan and Samson might take Pant’s place in the ODI team:
“I don’t believe that. I believe that in England, we forget his series-winning 100 pretty quickly. In one-day cricket, that was. He’s not very consistent in T20 cricket, especially at numbers four and five, but I don’t believe anyone has yet challenged him in Test and one-day matches.
“Even if Sanju Samson has been brilliant and KL Rahul can keep wickets, I don’t think Rishabh Pant can be replaced in one-day cricket, in my opinion. Because of the way he plays, Sanju Samson should be considered, but not at the expense of Rishabh Pant.”
The ODI wicketkeeper of choice for India, Pant missed the South Africa series because he was training with the T20I team in preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Kishan and Samson both played in the middle order while he was away and fared well.
In his three innings, Kishan scored 123 runs, including the match-winning 93 (84) in the second ODI. Samson scored 86 (63), 30 (36), and two while staying in the game (four).
Samson was consistent throughout this series: Wasim Jaffer
Jaffer went on to say that Samson’s consistency throughout the series had “a lot” of an impact on him. He stated:
“Sanju Samson has unquestionably greatly impressed me. His consistency has always been in doubt, but he proved it in this series. He was unable to win India the game in the first match, but he succeeded in winning it in the second and survived both (all three) games.”
India dropped the opening game but bounced back to win the next two matches by seven wickets and take the series 2-1.
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