If Someone Has Done Well, You Want To Reward Him - Aakash Chopra Picks Ishan Kishan To Start Ahead Of Sanju Samson Against Sri Lanka

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra says that Ishan Kishan is more likely to be picked in the eleven against Sri Lanka in the ODI series over Sanju Samson. Kishan and Samson both will look to grab the opportunities on the Sri Lanka tour in absence of Rishabh Pant, who is in England with the Test squad.

Aakash Chopra points out that Kishan played in India’s last T20I series – versus England in March; the left-hander struck a sparkling half-century on his T20I debut. Samson, on the other hand, averages 11.86 in 7 T20I appearances and was dropped from that England series after featuring in the series previous to that in Australia.

Hence, the 43-year-old believes that Kishan will be preferred over Samson. Also, with 6 matches – 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is – on the tour both wicket-keepers will be expected to play at some point.

“It is a tough question. I also feel that because Rahul Dravid and Shikhar Dhawan are there, maybe both are played three matches each. I will start with Ishan Kishan for the simple reason that he had done well recently. If someone has done well, you want to reward him,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.

“Sanju Samson got limited opportunities at the highest level. He didn’t really make the most of it but he will get chances again now.”

They will not get a spot in the top three: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra opines that there could be less time for Kishan or Samson to impress the selectors further in a game as they would be batting in the lower-middle order – Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey would be the likely top 4 and will bat for the most part of the innings against a weak Sri Lankan bowling attack.

“But there should be continuity. Last time you had played Ishan, albeit in a shorter format and the longer encounters will be played first, that means the ODIs but then I will start with Ishan but I won’t be surprised or disappointed if the team plays Sanju first and then plays Ishan.

“Sanju Samson is ahead in seniority but Ishan Kishan is ahead if we see in terms of continuity. Both are talented players but both will not get to bat up the order. They will not get a spot in the top three. So they will have to play a new role, if they are able to do that, they will do their chances a world of good,” the former batsman stated.

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