New Delhi: The Kerala-based batter wicketkeeper Sanju Samson has been making headlines with his extraordinary performances in the IPL and domestic circuit. It is a matter of luck he has not been able to get matches on a regular stretch. He scored 36 in the first ODI against New Zealand and yet he was dropped for the 2nd ODI as the team wanted to play an all-rounder. The Men in Blue have not changed their playing XI for the third ODI and Samson again had to warm the bench.
Before the third ODI, India’s coach VVS Laxman talked to the host broadcaster about Rishabh Pant. However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was. Not happy with Laxman’s comments. He took to Twitter and said, "Pant has done well at No. 4, so it is important to back him," says @VVSLaxman281. He's a good player out of form who's failed in ten of his last 11 innings; Samson averages 66 in ODIs, has made runs in all his last five matches & is on the bench. Go figure. @IamSanjuSamson”.
Sanju has played 11 ODIs and made 330 runs at an average of 66. His highest score is 86 not out. Earlier, when the second ODI was called off due to rain, skipper Shikhar Dhawan stated the reason, "We wanted the sixth bowler to come in, so Sanju Samson missed out and Hooda came in."
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Finn Allen, Devin Conway, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson.
India: Shikhar Dhawan (captain), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda, Shahbaz Ahmed, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik.