There is a lot of buzz surrounding the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, slated to be held in India from October 5 to November 19.
Hosts India will begin their campaign on October 8 against five-time World Cup champions Australia at Chepauk.
With less than three months to go for the showpiece tournament, the 10 participating teams will play more 50-over games in the near future.
As part of their preparations, India will lock horns with West Indies in a three-match ODI series later this month. The Indian squad for the games has already been picked, with Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad recalled to the side.
However, it will be interesting to see where Samson fits in the batting line-up if he gets a chance. He is the second wicketkeeper-batter option in the 17-member squad alongside Ishan Kishan.
Meanwhile, former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad has opined Samson won’t bat in the middle order due to the presence of Suryakumar Yadav.
He feels Samson is a top-order batter and can be tried as an opener alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
“Surya is already there, I don’t think there will be a competition between Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. Sanju is a top-order batter and Surya is middle order number 4 and number 5 batter. You never know you can also see Sanju Samson open along with Rohit Sharma. So I don’t think there’s any competition between Sanju and Surya, the competition will be between Sanju and a wicketkeeper-batsman,” Prasad told Khel Now.
With the likes of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Gaikwad already in the squad as openers, it’s unlikely that Samson will be preferred to open the innings.
MSK Prasad also said that India need one finishing touch to end their ICC trophy drought, which has now gone beyond 10 years.
“It is unfortunate that despite playing so good cricket in the ICC events, we are empty-handed. Also New Zealand since 1975 have failed to get that finishing touch as well and failed in the semifinals most of the time. India just need that one finishing touch to be champions and definitely in the next World Cup we will get there," he added.
The three-match ODI series between India and West Indies is slated to get underway on July 27 in Barbados.
