Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has offered a different solution to India’s team selection debate ahead of the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand. He believes the team management should consider resting Abhishek Sharma instead of dropping Sanju Samson again if they want to bring young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi back into the playing XI.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the fourth T20I in Auckland after Ishan Kishan recovered from the injury that had forced him to miss the previous two matches. During those two games, India had established an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
The teenager had made a strong impression in his previous appearance, scoring a quickfire 45 off just 19 balls in the third T20I in Wellington. Considering his impressive performance, he was expected to get another opportunity in the fourth match, which was a dead rubber. However, the team management decided not to include him.
India’s batting struggled in the fourth T20I as well. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan were dismissed for just four and zero runs, respectively, while Abhishek Sharma managed 27. New Zealand went on to register a massive 87-run victory on Friday. Glenn Phillips played a wonderful innings of 107 off just 49 balls, helping the hosts post a huge total of 259/7. In response, India could manage only 172/9.
Dinesh Karthik Explains Why Abhishek Sharma Should Get a Break
Speaking about India’s possible team combination for the final T20I on a show, Dinesh Karthik said that if the management wants to include Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma should be considered for a break rather than making Sanju Samson the player to miss out once again. He pointed out that whenever there is a discussion about giving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a place in the team, Sanju Samson is repeatedly considered the player who should be dropped.
Dinesh Karthik believes that Abhishek Sharma can be rested to accommodate the young batter. He also stressed that the decision should be seen as giving Abhishek a break rather than dropping him from the team.
Sanju Samson Started the Series With a Match-Winning Knock
Sanju Samson began the five-match series on a positive note, scoring an impressive 67 off just 33 balls in Christchurch. His match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award. However, he could not maintain the same form in the following matches, scoring 14 and 18 in the second and third T20Is, respectively. He had also moved up to the No. 3 position to make room for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the batting order.
With the final T20I approaching, India’s team selection will be interesting to watch, particularly with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting for another opportunity and Sanju Samson looking to regain his form.
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