Ranchi: Sanju Samson’s lean run is the lone sore point in an otherwise firing batting line-up, and it will prompt the team management to ponder pairing teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with opener Abhishek Sharma in the second T20I against the West Indies here on Friday.
A win here will power India to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, but the hosts will certainly want a more productive outing from Samson.
The Kerala batter’s last four innings read: 9, 7, 2, 11. Consequently, the partnerships involving Samson in the previous four matches stand at: 7, 12, 2 (both for the 2nd wicket, with Sooryavanshi coming in as opener), and 29.
“The biggest question is another failure for Samson. How long a rope can he get? I am a big fan, and I would like him to play. But I think he is feeling insecure. He has also said before that when there is pressure from competition behind him, he cannot perform. That’s why, if you remember, when Ishan made a comeback in the New Zealand series before the World Cup, Samson did not perform. And now, Vaibhav is behind him. He must be feeling that pressure,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Pressure plays a big part. Most people do not understand it. Those who have played know it, but those who have not don’t get it. That’s why, in cricket, especially when playing for India, you need to be able to handle pressure. Samson will be feeling that pressure, and for that matter, anyone would in his place.”
Shreyas Iyer led the way with 102 not out off 43 balls as India beat West Indies by eight wickets Tuesday in the first of the five Twenty20 internationals.
The captain reached his maiden T20 hundred after 42 balls — tied for the sixth-fastest century by an India player in the format — as the hosts finished with 172-2 in 14.4 overs, chasing West Indies’ 171 all out (19.1 overs).
Iyer hit six sixes and 10 fours. Ishan Kishan scored 37 not out, as the duo put on 137 off 67 balls for the third wicket.
Shai Hope (52) and Sherfane Rutherford (56) hit half-centuries for the visitors to help recover from 135-8, but it was an under-par score against the reigning T20 world champions.
The second match is on Friday in Ranchi.
Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bowl. Batting all-rounder Naman Dhir made his T20 debut for the hosts.
Chasing 172, India lost its in-form batters in the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma scored 21 off 10 balls before holing out off Roston Chase. Sanju Samson was out for 11.
India made 62-2 in the powerplay, as Kishan and Iyer helped the innings recover to 102-2 at the halfway mark.
