EXPLAINED: Why Sanju Samson Is Not In India Playing XI For T20 World Cup 2024 Match Vs Ireland
Photo : BCCI
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India are playing Ireland in the T20 World Cup 2024.
- Sanju Samson is not in the playing XI.
- Rishabh Pant is playing as the wicketkeeper-batter of the side.
India are currently taking on Ireland in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. India have gone into the match with a playing XI that looks quite strong on paper. However, the one big name that is not part of the playing XI is that of star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. This is despite the fact, that Samson made the squad on the back of some brilliant form in the IPL 2024, where he scored 531 runs.
Rishabh Pant was picked ahead of Sanju Samson as the side’s first-choice wicketkeeper batter in the match against Ireland. Pant played exceptionally well in the warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1. He scored a quickfire half-century before he was retired out. In typical fashion, Pant smashed the bowlers all around the park with a unique set of shots. Hence, it was no question that he had to be brought into the playing XI.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson did not make use of the opportunity that he was given during the warm-up match against Bangladesh. He was the choice to open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma in the absence of Virat Kohli. However, he could only manage to score just one run from 6 balls. Hence, this might be the big reason that he missed out on the playing XI.
Moreover, Rohit Sharma has managed to select players in the playing XI who can perform with both ball and bat. He played Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja as hit two pacers. In the middle order he has gone with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, as both can provide some overs with the ball. Hence, Sanju Samson misses out.
India won the toss and elected to bowl against Ireland at New York. The Indian bowlers were on fire as they kept picking on wickets at regular intervals. The Irish team were bowled out for 96 runs, with only Gareth Delaney showing some resistance with a 26-run knock. Hardik Pandya led the pack with 3 wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh picking 2 wickets each.
India Playing XI Vs Ireland: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
India Squad For T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.