IND vs NZ: "At No.6, Sanju Samson Is A Solid Proven Player": Dinesh Karthik

Team India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes Sanju Samson might play at No. 6 in the impending ODI series against New Zealand.

Despite not being among the runs in the three-match T20I series, which was marred by rain, the Kerala-born player was not given the chance to play.

Samson begins the ODI series with a strong record in the format. Last month, he thrashed South Africa at home in three games, scoring 116 runs while going undefeated for the whole series.

Samson has been a mainstay in the ODI second-string lineup despite having to wait a year for his second debut. He made appearances against Zimbabwe and the West Indies as well, averaging 82.87 in 2022.

Dinesh Karthik stated on Cricbuzz that Samson can play in the playing XI’s lower-middle order:

“Shikhar and Shubman will open, Shreyas will bat third, while Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav will bat fourth and fifth, respectively. At No.6, Samson is a solid proven player. Then there are the five bowlers to contend with.”

Samson previously played T20I cricket in New Zealand as a member of the Indian team’s 2020 tour. He was a candidate to participate in the just-finished T20I series between the two teams, but the management decided to go a completely different direction, therefore he was unable to make an appearance.

“Team India would not mind trying more”: Dinesh Karthik

During their 1-0 T20I series win over the Kiwis, Team India mostly used the same lineup. However, Dinesh Karthik believes that change is on the way now that Shikhar Dhawan is leading the team.

With Rohit Sharma out, the senior opening batter assumes leadership responsibilities once more.

Dinesh Karthik claimed that he would not mind changing the starting XI because Dhawan is not the primary captain:

“Shikhar Dhawan is aware that he won’t serve as captain on a permanent basis, thus I believe Team India will not mind giving it their all in this ODI series. When the outcome came, he would feel at ease. There will, in my opinion, be at least 13–14 Indian players in this series.”

India is slated to take on New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series on Friday, November 25, at Eden Park in Auckland.

Cricket enthusiasts in India can watch the 1st ODI against New Zealand on Prime Video on November 25, 2022. Precoverage starts from 6 am onwards.

Also Read: Watch: Centurion David Warner Leaves Kids Amazed After Handing Gloves In A Heartwarming Gesture At MCG