Samson backed by India legend amid calls for axing to make way for Sooryavanshi: 'Vaibhav should play but...'

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has said the Team India must persist with Sanju Samson even if they want to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a chance in the Playing XI.

With three low scores in the two games against Ireland and the series opener against England, Samson is under pressure to justify his place as the opener of the side especially with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings, ready to make his India debut.

The team management has so far resisted the temptation of bringing Sooryavanshi into the XI but pressure is growing on Samson. However, Pujara believes India should continue to stick with the wicket-keeper batter who was the Player of the Tournament at the recent T20 World Cup.

India should persist with Samson

Pujara remains very clear that Samson alongside Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan should continue to the preferred top three of the Indian team.

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“I think India should persist with Sanju Samson. I don’t think he should be feeling any pressure. He has proved himself in the T20 World Cup and, with the kind of talent he possesses, he should be there in the playing XI. There shouldn’t be a lot of noise about dropping Sanju Samson. He is a quality player and should get a longer run. Sanju just needs to bat naturally and not think too much," Pujara said on JioStar.

Pujara, regarded among the best Indian Test players of the modern era, said that even though Sooryavanshi deserves a chance but nobody in the top three should be dropped to accommodate him. However, he added that the team management can rest someone to bring in the young sensation.

“If Vaibhav needs to play, he should play, but not at the expense of dropping someone, rather by resting someone. If you want to give him an opportunity, that is fine. But you shouldn’t be dropping any of India’s top three players, whether it’s Sanju, Abhishek or Ishan Kishan. Having said that, Vaibhav does deserve an opportunity, and his opportunity will come," he said.

The first match of the five-match T20I series between India and England was washed out and the next game takes place on Saturday, July 4 in Manchester.