"No Space For Sanju Samson In...": R Ashwin Ends Debate Over Star Batter's ODI World Cup Chances

With only two months remaining for the ODI World Cup 2023, India are in their final stages of deciding the team combination. Their desperate call on experimentations was evident in the way Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were rested from the final two ODIs against West Indies. With a bunch of fringe players, India lost the second ODI but made a brilliant comeback to win the third ODI. Sanju Samson played a great role in the third ODI and even scored a half-century while batting at No. 4. However, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Samson has got "no space" in the top-4 in ODIs.

"The other player who got a chance was Sanju Samson. He scored a fifty in the ODI series. In the T20I match, he scored 12 off 12. He got a role in the middle-order. When it comes to IPL, he bats at number three or four largely. Mind you, he has got a very good record in ODIs. A very good average and he scored a 50 in the third ODI as well. And he took down spin as soon as he came in, and that's his specialty," Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel. 

"When it comes to Team India, the number 3 and 4 slot is not open. Given Sanju's ability and talent, we know he can change the course of he game at any point. He is a very good guy and we all want good for him. But the role we expect from Sanju when it comes to Team India is different. There is no space for him in the Top 4. Whether there will be a spot for him after the World Cup or after one or two years after the World Cup, we will have to wait and watch. 

"Because Virat at 3 is a fix. Rohit and Gill are also fixed as openers. Shreyas and KL are also absolute certainties when they are fit. We need a keeper-batter alone as a backup. So, if one of KL or Shreyas is not available they need a backup at 4 or 5. But Sanju is not doing that role in IPL. He is starting to do that role only in ODIs and he has scored a 50 in that role now. That's good news for him and Team India. I feel Sanju Samson will be ahead in the contingency plan as far as the ODI World Cup is concerned and Tilak Varma is almost there."

India begin their World Cup campaign against Australia on October 8.

Topics mentioned in this article

Sanju Samson Ravichandran Ashwin Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma World Cup 2023 India Cricket Team Cricket