Is Sanju Samson playing today's AFG vs IND 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match?
Wicketeeper-batter Sanju Samson didn't find a place in India's playing XI for the Men in Blue's 2024 T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan on Thursday, June 20. The game is being played at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Samson hasn't played a single match in the ongoing showpiece event, as Rishabh Pant has emerged as India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Pant has looked in impressive form and is India's top run-getter at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The southpaw expectedly retained his place in the playing XI for the contest against Afghanistan and Samson missed out once again.
Sanju Samson got an opportunity to open the batting in India's warm-up match against Bangladesh. However, the right-handed batter failed to make the most of the chance, scoring just one run off six deliveries.
Samson looked in good touch in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) though, finishing as Rajasthan Royals' (RR) second-highest run-getter with 531 runs from 15 innings.
India's playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah.
"Left-right combination is formed when Rishabh Pant plays at number three" - Harbhajan Singh on Sanju Samson's absence from playing XI
Many expected Sanju Samson to be India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter at the 2024 T20 World Cup, given that he performed admirably for RR in IPL 2024.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan Singh pointed out that Samson has had to miss out after Rishabh Pant's role was changed by the Indian think tank.
The cricketer-turned-commentator explained:
"His role was completely changed. Before this World Cup, we were saying that Sanju Samson will play in the team because he has made big runs. To make Rishabh Pant play at number three is a big positive. Left-Right combination is formed when Rishabh Pant plays at number three."
India clinched victories over Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States of America (USA) in the group stage. Their fourth and final group match against Canada was abandoned due to a wet outfield. The Rohit Sharma-led side would now aim to get off to a flying start in the Super 8 round by trumping Afghanistan.