WI v IND 2023: Sanju Samson couldn’t give a worthy performance in 5th T20I- Parthiv Patel

Sanju Samson managed 32 runs in 3 innings in T20I series.

Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel criticized keeper-batter Sanju Samson for wasting an opportunity to impress in the recent fifth T20I between West Indies and India, in which the visitors lost by 8 wickets and also lost the five-T20I series 2-3.

Sanju Samson was picked as the second keeper-batter in the Indian white-ball squad for the tour of the West Indies and got to play 2 ODIs in which he scored 60 runs with the best of 51. When Ishan Kishan failed to impress in the first 2 T20Is, Indian team management gave Sanju Samson the keeping gloves as well.

However, the Kerala batter managed only 32 runs in 3 innings, scoring 7, 12, and 13 in the T20I series.

Parthiv Patel said Samson could not stand up and give a worthy performance when the team needed it.

“Once Tilak Varma got out and Sanju Samson came in, he took his time. I thought he was well settled and had a great opportunity today. These are the games where you need someone to stand up and give a worthy performance, which Sanju Samson couldn't do it,” said Patel on Cricbuzz.

WI v IND 2023: “India played with 10 players”- Aakash Chopra critical of Hardik Pandya’s use of Akshar Patel

He did praise Suryakumar Yadav for his half-century which enabled India to post a decent total after losing the openers for single-digit scores each. Suryakumar scored 61 runs off 45 deliveries, smashing four boundaries and three sixes in the fifth T20I.

"Suryakumar Yadav did what Suryakumar Yadav has been doing throughout the series. He has been Mr. Consistent in this format. It is very difficult in the T20 format to be consistent and keep playing shots, but Suryakumar Yadav has been doing it time and again,” Patel added.

Patel also hailed Tilak Varma’s ability to bowl, saying India has been looking for someone who can bowl a bit while batting in the middle order. Tilak also picked his maiden T20I wicket, in the form of dangerous Nicholas Pooran, on the second ball of his career.

“We've been talking about that we need someone who can give you a bit of bowling from the top five or six batters, and Tilak Varma did that. He bowled only two overs but got Nicholas Pooran out. So, that is something India can look forward to in the future,” said Patel.

India’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series in Ireland where Jasprit Bumrah will make his comeback to international cricket and also captain the side.