IND vs NZ: “Play Deepak Hooda Also But Try To Play Sanju Samson As Well” – Aakash Chopra Ahead Of India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has urged the Indian team management to try to fit both Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda in the playing XI for the third ODI against New Zealand National Cricket Team.

The third and final ODI of the series between the Men In Blue and the Black Caps is scheduled to be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday, November 30. The Kane Williamson-led side have a 1-0 lead in the series, having won the first ODI comfortably by 7 wickets.

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Speaking on his official YouTube channel, the 45-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator said that Umran Malik and Deepak Hooda should be retained in the playing XI for the final ODI and India should try to fit in Sanju Samson as well. He also opined that the left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav should be a part of the playing XI for the third ODI. He elaborated:

“Give one match to Kuldeep, play Umran Malik for sure. Play Deepak Hooda also but try to play Sanju Samson as well. If you don’t play Sanju Samson, you will be criticized a lot, be ready for that if you don’t play him.

“But if you play him (Samson), how will you play Deepak Hooda? If you play him as well, then you won’t be able to play Rishabh Pant. What will you do? You are resting Suryakumar Yadav in the next series, so there is no need to rest him here, in any case this is not a dead rubber, it is all to play for.”

Notably, Samson was included in India’s playing XI for the first ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand, but he was dropped for the second ODI in the favour of Deepak Hooda.

He covers the journey between commotion and celebration very quickly – Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant

Chopra is expecting stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan to perform well in the third ODI against the Kiwis. He stated:

“Shubman Gill is batting very well and Shikhar Dhawan plays well in any case, he played well in the first match and the expectation from him will be to do well in the third match also.”

Also, Aakash Chopra is expecting the wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to deliver a good performance in the final ODI match. He said:

“Rishabh Pant should score runs else there will be a lot of commotion because there is a lot of commotion when he doesn’t score runs. When he scores runs, there is a lot of celebration as well. He covers the journey between commotion and celebration very quickly.”

Also Read: IND vs NZ: “Samson Deserves An Opportunity” – Simon Doull Shares His Take On Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson Debate