Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has stated that he does not consider wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson suitable as a backup opener for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, citing issues with consistency and suggesting Samson should focus on T20 International cricket.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Jaffer provided his assessment of India’s top-order strategy for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He highlighted that the middle overs of ODI cricket demand sustained consistency and orthodox game management, areas where Samson reportedly falls short.
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Jaffer remarked, “I do not see Sanju Samson as a backup opener for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027; I think there’s a slight issue of consistency with him. In one-day cricket, you require a bit more consistency because there is more time at the crease. Sanju has definitely scored a hundred in his last ODI, but he has played quite a bit of ODI cricket, and consistency has been an issue for him. I think India has a few better options than Sanju Samson. I feel Sanju should be left alone to play T20 cricket.”
Sanju Samson’s record includes 510 runs in 16 ODIs and 14 innings, averaging 56.66 with three centuries, alongside 1,432 runs in 66 T20I matches at an average of 27.01, including three centuries and six half-centuries. His standout performance was at the recent T20 World Cup, where he earned the Player of the Tournament award by scoring 321 runs in five innings during India’s title-winning campaign.
Addressing potential opening choices for the ODI format, Jaffer identified Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as better-suited candidates. He said, “Yashasvi Jaiswal, for sure. Sai Sudharsan, I feel, could do a fine job too. He has the technique for 50-over cricket, rotates the strike well, and plays very orthodox cricket. Shubman Gill is already there, and Ruturaj Gaikwad is another who plays in that mould. In 50-over cricket, you need that strike rotation. We see how Virat Kohli does it: he rotates the strike and plays very orthodox cricket. That is what you need in 50-over cricket, and I feel these names are better equipped to succeed.”
Source: thenewsmill.com
