NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, both wicketkeeper-batters, have showcased their skills in the recent Duleep Trophy, each scoring a century. However, Samson’s performance stood out, amassing 196 runs in four innings for India D, while Kishan managed 123 runs representing India C.
Despite Samson’s impressive showing, his previous two T20I appearances against Sri Lanka in July, where he recorded back-to-back ducks, may still linger in the selectors’ minds, Cricbuzz reported.
The question remains whether his Duleep Trophy performance will be sufficient to overshadow those disappointing outings and secure him a spot in India’s T20I squad against Bangladesh.
Considering Samson’s current form in the Duleep Trophy held in Anantapur, there is a possibility that he might regain his place in the team. However, the competition for the spot remains intense, and the final decision will be in the hands of the selectors.
Kishan recently garnered attention for adhering to the selectors’ directive to engage in domestic cricket. This move has sparked rumors about his potential return to the Indian squad for the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
Prior to his exclusion from the team nearly a year ago, due to factors not entirely linked to his on-field performance, Kishan had almost secured his position in India’s white-ball setup. His consistent performance had even led to his inclusion in the 50-over World Cup squad.
Kishan’s chances of a recall to the Indian team may have to wait, despite his renewed focus on domestic cricket. The selectors have included Kishan in the Irani Cup squad, while Samson, who has played 30 T20Is, is not part of the five-day fixture that concludes just a day before the first T20I against Bangladesh on October 6.
Although selectors can always pull a player from domestic matches for international duty, it seems that Samson might remain the preferred choice for now. He may be called upon to open the innings, a role he undertook during the series against Sri Lanka, albeit without success.
The selectors are unlikely to pick Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the T20Is, keeping their more important Test duties in mind. The two had opened in the T20Is in Lanka but are expected to be kept out, along with other Test players such as Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, and Rishabh Pant, who were part of the T20I squad in Sri Lanka.
This decision may provide an opportunity for Sai Sudarshan, who featured in a T20I in Zimbabwe in July. The Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Titans batter is part of the Irani squad.
India will host Bangladesh for T20Is starting on Sunday, October 6 in Gwalior. The remaining two matches will be played on October 9 (New Delhi) and October 12 (Hyderabad).
