Ind Vs NZ ODI: 3rd ODI; No place for Sanju Samson; Team India remain Unchanged

India Playing XI 3rd ODI: India vs New Zealand LIVE: After a washout in the 2nd ODI, India are still trailing in the series 0-1. With just 12.5 overs of play on Sunday, Shikhar Dhawan and VVS Laxman have no reasons to change the combination. Hence, once again, Sanju Samson will be the one on the bench. As India push for more all-rounders in Playing XI, Samson is the scapegoat. Deepak Hooda, who replaced Samson in Hamilton, will retain his place in the Playing XI in Christchurch. Ind Vs NZ ODI: 3rd ODI; No place for Sanju Samson; Team India remain Unchanged.

Much like Manish Pandey in the past, Sanju Samson has been a part of musical chair contest in Indian team. He is in and out of the Playing XI and often the squad. He is not part of the squad for Bangladesh ODIs. And a chance to make it to the Playing XI looks difficult. As long as Rishabh Pant is there in the squad.

India Playing XI 3rd ODI: Why is Sanju Samson being ignored?

Even though it looks like injustice, it has nothing to do with it.

Despite good batting numbers, he remains a one-dimensional player if Rishabh plays.

The only way he can make it to the XI is at the expense of Pant.

But the team management has kept in Pant for far too long despite his inconsistencies.

By the virtue of being the vice-captain of the series.

As the team management wants to try out more all-rounders, Samson gets the chopping.

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It’s not that India do not have one-dimensional players. It’s the reason why Samson gets the boot every time.

Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumra Yadav are all one-dimensional.

As Dhawan, Gill, Iyer and SKY are integral part of India’s second-string squad, Samson misses out.

Hooda being the all-rounder and a sixth bowling option gets the nod.

In 3rd ODI, unless Laxman benches Iyer or SKY, Samson is set to spend his time on the sidelines.

Even former chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth is not happy with how the team management has treated Sanju Samson. He wants Pant to go back to domestic and reinvent his white-ball cricket.

“India is messing up with team selection. Why do you need Pant in the XI when Sanju Samson can also keep wickets? If Pant plays at 4, you are wasting both Sky and Sanju down the order. Bring in Hooda at 6 and ask Pant to return to domestic and reinvent himself in white ball,” Krishnamachari Srikkanth said of Samson.

As for other spots, Washington Sundar will keep his spot without a doubt. He gets the first spin-all-rounder slot. Deepak Chahar who returned to the Playing XI in place of Shardul Thakur, did not get a go due to rain. He will keep his place. Arshdeep having been down under and in NZ, could rest for Shardul Thakur.

In the other mini-battle for spots, Yuzvendra Chahal pipped Kuldeep Yadav again. But considering this is the last ODI in NewZealand, the team management could give him the go. Umran Malik will retain his place.

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Battle for middle-order spots (Runs in 2022)

Sanju Samson: 284 runs in 9 innings  at 71.00

Shreyas Iyer: 566 runs in 11 innings at 62.88

Suryakumar Yadav: 254 runs in 11 innings at 28.22

Deepak Hooda: 141 runs in 6 innings at 28.20

Rishabh Pant: 326 runs in 9 innings at 40.75

India Playing XI 3rd ODI:

Shikhar Dhawan (C)

Shubman Gill

Shreyas Iyer

Rishabh Pant (WK)

Suryakumar Yadav

Deepak Hooda

Washington Sundar

Deepak Chahar

Umran Malik

Arshdeep Singh/ Shardul Thakur

Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav

India Squad: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar