Former cricketer Wasim Jaffer stated that he does not view Sanju Samson as India's backup opening option for the 2027 ODI World Cup, slated to be held in South Africa , Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Despite acknowledging Samson's talent and his match-winning century against South Africa, Jaffer highlighted long-standing concerns regarding the wicketkeeper-batter's consistency.
He argued that ODI cricket demands extended periods at the crease, requiring a level of stability and textbook game management that doesn't align with Samson's natural high-risk, explosive approach.
Instead of pushing him into the ODI roadmap, Jaffer suggested that team management should leave Samson to focus entirely on T20I cricket, a format where he has thrived—most notably anchoring India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.
"I do not see Sanju Samson as a backup opener for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027; I think there's a slight issue of consistency with him. In one-day cricket, you require a bit more consistency because there is more time at the crease. Sanju has definitely scored a hundred in his last ODI, but he has played quite a bit of ODI cricket, and consistency has been an issue for him. I think India has a few better options than Sanju Samson. I feel Sanju should be left alone to play T20 cricket," Jaffer said while speaking on Doordarshan's The Great Indian Cricket Show.
According to Jaffer, India already possess several top-order players whose techniques are far better tailored for the technical and length requirements of ODIs. He named Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as stronger options.
"Yashasvi Jaiswal, for sure. Sai Sudharsan, I feel, could do a fine job too. He has the technique for 50-over cricket, rotates the strike well, and plays very orthodox cricket. Shubman Gill is already there, and Ruturaj Gaikwad is another who plays in that mould. In 50-over cricket, you need that strike rotation. We see how Virat Kohli does it: he rotates the strike and plays very orthodox cricket. That is what you need in 50-over cricket, and I feel these names are better equipped to succeed," Jaffer remarked.
In 16 ODIs and 14 innings, Sanju Samson has amassed 510 runs at an average of 56.66, including three centuries and three fifties. In T20Is, he has scored 1,432 runs in 66 matches and 58 innings at an average of 27.01, including three centuries and six fifties.
Earlier this year, Samson delivered three match-winning performances in successive games to help India defend the T20 World Cup title. He deservedly earned the Player-of-the-Tournament accolade after finishing the global showpiece with 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37.
