In a mini-battle between two players, Rishabh Pant as first choice, assumed to be the backup wicketkeeper in T20 World Cup squad, Sanju Samson in IPL 2024 match between Lucknow Supergiants and Rajasthan Royals KL Rahul was defeated at the Ekana Stadium on Saturday. While the thunderous winning knock seemed to seal the deal for the RR skipper, former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu feels Samson should have been picked in the T20 World Cup squad First choice keeper, ahead of Pant.
Rahul, who has resisted quashing criticism over the strike rate debate, blasted 76 off 48 balls with eight boundaries against Royals just days before the big T20 World Cup squad announcement and 2 sixes. The knock helped Lucknow enter the match on the back of consecutive wins over defending champions Chennai Super Kings, having scored 196 runs in five overs in 20 overs.
In reply, Samson scored an unbeaten 71 off just 33 balls, including four sixes and seven boundaries, as Rajasthan ended the chase with one ball.
In the battle between the two goalkeepers, Sidhu, while speaking to Star Sports, opined that Samson is leading the race for the wicketkeeper’s spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad. He explained that while Rahul does have variety in his batting, he would select Samson purely on the basis of his performance, followed by Pant.
“No. No. 1 is Sanju Samson, who is in good form. This is a different Samson. If India find themselves in need of a backup opener or a No. 4 batsman or a No. 6 batsman, then they have the same in-form KL Rahul. But I still prefer Samson, followed by Rishabh Pant. Now, do you think he is a bit iffy as a white-ball specialist, but he has endured so far. It’s a test. My preference is these three,” he said.
Sidhu, who makes a blockbuster return to cricket commentary in IPL 2024, further mentioned that if the BCCI does not punish Ishan Kishan for missing domestic matches during his absence from international matches, he will be removed from the center out of his contract and he will consider the Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper.
“If BCCI had not punished Ishan Kishan, I would have considered him too because he picked the ball early and reacted well,” he concluded.