Sanju Samson's childhood coach Biju was disappointed to see how the Indian cricket fans are making Rishabh Pant the villain on social media for the Kerala star’s continued omission from Team India’s playing XI on the ongoing limited-overs tour of New Zealand.
On the New Zealand tour, Samson has been warming the benches, as he got the only opportunity in the first ODI, which the hosts won by 7 wickets, leaving fans enraged at the BCCI for consistently favoring struggling Pant over the Rajasthan Royals captain.
While many fans are saying that Samson is becoming the victim of politics and favoritism, Biju turned down the notions and said that only circumstances are not working in his favour and it is wrong to blame Pant for his non-selection in the playing XI.
Biju told CricketNext: “Now what's happening on social media is that people are turning against Rishabh Pant for no reason. Pant is there because he has performed over a long period of time. And see there is no clash between Pant and Sanju Samson. Samson has been playing and can play for India as a pure batter.
Pant's keeping skills are very good. If you look over a period of time, Pant has not done a major lapse or fumble behind the stumps. He has come good for India in both red and white ball over a long period of time. He might have a slump now… When you talk about impact players like Adam Gilchrist or Virender Sehwag. They must get a levy to fail.”
He continued, “What I am not liking is how the Mallu crowd is putting Sanju Samson against BCCI, and belittling Rishabh Pant. It is very wrong and not at all on. Political leaders in Kerala think cricket is another game of politics and are saying Sanju is victimized. No, not at all. I don’t believe so and it's just that circumstances are not working in his favor. He is not being deliberately targeted. I don't think anybody in the Indian cricketing system would be deliberately targeted. Somebody like a VVS Laxman is the coach, I don’t see that happening.”
Biju signed off by saying, “There is a theory that most fast bowlers practice 60-70 percent against right-handers. So, when a left-hander comes to bat, there will be some freebies along the way. I don't subscribe to that theory. If you are a good fast bowler, left or right or even someone with an awkward stance like Shivnarine Chanderpaul shouldn't bother you much. My theory is simple, if you are good enough, you should be batting. Left or right doesn’t matter.”
