Pujara Defends Samsons T20 Form Ahead of New Zealand Tour
Cheteshwar Pujara defends Sanju Samsons T20 performance, emphasizing the natural ups and downs in cricket as India prepares for New Zealand.
New Delhi, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has come to the defense of wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, whose fluctuating performances in T20 internationals have drawn scrutiny. Pujara argues that occasional failures in this format are normal and should not be interpreted as a prolonged slump in form.
India is set to embark on a tour of New Zealand, where they will compete in a series across all formats, starting with T20 matches. Given the conditions in New Zealand, Pujara expressed uncertainty about whether both Samson and young batsman Vaibhav Suryawanshi can be included in the playing eleven simultaneously.
Following a recent 2-2 draw in their T20 series against the West Indies, India is looking to establish consistency. Samson’s performance has often been a topic of discussion, but Pujara believes the wicketkeeper possesses the potential for significant innings, making it premature to question his form.
In an interview with ‘GeoStar’, Pujara stated, “He is never out of form. Sanju Samson is one of those players in the T20 format whose performance varies. However, it’s always just about one good innings. Once he plays a good innings, he gets back into form. That’s why you can’t say he is out of form. It’s inevitable to fail in T20. Who doesn’t get out in T20? Consistency is important, but I think too much emphasis is placed on it for top-order players in T20.”
Pujara also noted that including both Samson and Suryawanshi in the team could pose a selection challenge in New Zealand. He suggested that given the local conditions, India might prioritize all-rounders, which could limit the number of specialist batsmen in the top order.
He remarked, “It seems a bit difficult for Vaibhav to play every match in New Zealand because you need more all-rounders there – either spin all-rounders or seam bowling all-rounders. For that reason, you don’t need many batsmen, especially in the top order. Either Sanju or Vaibhav can open.”
Pujara added, “I don’t think both can be part of the playing eleven in New Zealand. Therefore, Vaibhav will have to wait, but he will certainly get opportunities. I’m not saying he won’t play at all during the series. If opportunities arise based on conditions or player fitness, then fine. However, in New Zealand, both Sanju and Vaibhav cannot be in the playing eleven together.”
