Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra wasn’t too critical of Sanju Samson’s exclusion from India’s playing XI for the second ODI against New Zealand that was spoiled by rain on Sunday (November 27) in Hamilton.
For this match, Team India dropped Samson and Shardul Thakur to make way for Deepak Hooda, and the team management yet again came under heavy criticism, especially for once again dropping Samson from the XI, who was already overlooked for the T20I series on the New Zealand tour.
Well, Nehra feels picking Hooda over Samson makes sense, but wasn’t pleased with the idea to drop Thakur as he feels the pacer deserved at least one more opportunity in the ODI series.
Ashish Nehra told the broadcasters Prime Video, “Even if you see Sanju Samson, I would have played Hooda ahead of Samson because he was part of the T20 World Cup 2022 squad and suddenly, he is nowhere. So, it's difficult for Hooda as well as Thakur.”
The former pacer explained, “Bowling wise - two debutants, then Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, who has played a lot of T20 cricket but not a lot of ODI cricket lately, and then Yuzvendra Chahal. Five bowling options is okay, but you should definitely have a sixth option. But that sixth-bowling option for me is not Hooda, it's Deepak Chahar.”
You can go with four pacers because there is no Hardik Pandya, and then you can pick two spinners. Sundar is a good-enough batter and then you have Thakur and Chahar. You have to hold the fort somewhere and not keep adjusting all the time.”
Speaking about India’s bowling attack, Nehra said: “I hope they haven't picked Deepak Hooda for his bowling. You have Washington Sundar, yes, he bowled well, and picked up a few wickets in the T20Is. He's your sixth option, but not a great sixth option.”
He signed off by saying, “Two changes India have made today, first thing, I don't feel two wrongs make a right because it's not that Shardul Thakur hasn't done well. But before Thakur it should have been Deepak Chahar. Now you have gone with Thakur and it is harsh to drop after one game.”
The third and final ODI will be played in Christchurch on Wednesday.
