India to play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28.
A return for the promising Sanju Samson and a maiden national call-up for Rahul Tripathi were two of the more eye-catching decisions made by the Indian selectors for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland.
Despite resting numerous first-choice star cricketers, the selectors did not pick Samson and Tripathi for the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa, even though they were among the top performers in the IPL 2022.
The BCCI, however, included the two in the 17-man squad, captained by Hardik Pandya, for the two T20Is against Ireland in Dublin on June 26 and 28.
In the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad have done a good job to earn assured starting as openers. Suryakumar Yadav, who has regained full fitness, will bat at number three.
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Former India opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes Deepak Hooda should be given preference, as per the pecking order.
“When Pant isn’t there (at no 4), the big question is who will replace him? Will it be Sanju Samson or Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi? Sky has the third spot, and opener’s slots are covered by Ishan and Ruturaj. If we go by the pegging order, Deepak Hooda deserves the fourth spot. I will be thinking they should play Hooda, even at no five. Pandya can bat at No 4," Chopra said on his YouTube channel on Friday.
Adding on, he said, “When looking from this perspective, doesn’t look like Tripathi will get a chance, nor will Samson. There are just two T20Is - how many changes can you expect? I’m not 100 percent certain if they will get a chance (to play). But if they do play Samson/Tripathi then Hooda may ask why he’s being picked if there’s no place for him in the eleven."