'Don't troll Gautam Gambhir' - Aakash Chopra supports India head coach over Sanju Samson's ODI snub

Reputed Indian commentator Aakash Chopra has explained the situation regarding Sanju Samson's future in the Indian team. Aakash Chopra also spoke about Gautam Gambhir's old tweet about Sanju Samson, where he called him an exciting and emerging player for Team India.

Interestingly, there is a narrow battle for the wicketkeeper's slot in Team India and there has been a lot of competition for the same. Rishabh Pant is obviously the first-choice wicketkeeper for Team India in all three formats.

However, he faced a car accident in December 2022 and went into rehabilitation for almost a year. As a result, there was a vacancy for a wicketkeeper in the team across all three formats. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Dhruv Jurel, Jitesh Sharma, and KL Rahul are some players who took responsibility for the wicketkeeper.

However, Rishabh Pant returned to IPL 2024 after recovering from the accident. Later, he was also picked for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, although Sanju Samson was available and also impressed everyone with his batting show in Pant’’s absence.

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Will Sanju Samson get more opportunities under Gautam Gambhir? Aakash Chopra explains the entire scenario

Now, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has opened up about the Rishabh Pant-Sanju Samson scenario in his latest YouTube video. Speaking about an old tweet of Gautam Gambhir where he backed Sanju Samson, Chopra noted that it is an old tweet.

"There is an old Gautam Gambhir tweet that is going viral in which he said in 2020 that Sanju Samson is not only the best wicketkeeper-batter in India. So is it right that you have done something else when it is in your hands? It is a four-year old thing”, said Chopra, who played 10 Tests for India from 2003 to 2004.

"That must have been the thought when he said it. It's not that Sanju hasn't played cricket after that. He has played a lot of cricket, T20Is and ODIs, and Gautam might have a different point of view now. So that is a possibility. Don't troll Gauti based on what he said four years ago," Chopra stated.

Aakash Chopra, who is the most popular Hindi commentator in India currently, also pointed out that Sanju Samson has lacked consistency over the years. Hence, there is no clarity if he gets enough chances under Gautam Gambhir or not.

"When the transition happens, a new coach, a new captain or a new selection committee, bridges are not built at times and there are gaps left in the middle. It's that gap in Sanju Samson's case because clarity of thought is not there as he had scored a century the last time he was played," the 45-year-old added.

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Main team players don't play between two World Cups: Aakash Chopra

Chopra also explained the entire scenario to fans when a transition happens in the Indian team. Notably, Gautam Gambhir is the new Head Coach for India after the T20 World Cup 2024.

"The problem is that you see quite often that the main team players don't play between two World Cups. Then some youngster plays and when he does well, you feel he is very good and should be given opportunities but as soon as the senior player becomes available, the senior plays and the youngster is left out", the cricketer-turned-commentator concluded.

Rahul Dravid left the Indian Team after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Gautam Gambhir will lead the side till 2027 and has been offered a 3-year term as head coach. Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in IPL 2024 as a mentor.