NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma-led Team India has stormed into the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup with three successive wins in the group stage. But former India pacer Sreesanth has suggested a change in the Indian playing XI going forward, recommending the inclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson.
Samson, who opened in a warm-up match against Bangladesh, did not make a significant impact on the tricky New York pitch. And so far, he has not played in the first three games of India's World Cup campaign.
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Sreesanth believes that if all-rounder Shivam Dube isn't contributing with the ball, Samson could be a valuable replacement in the lineup.
"If they [Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli] are opening, I don't see any reason to change the XI. Axar Patel is bowling well. If you look at Shivam Dube, yes, he hasn't played well in the first two games, but we know what he can do with the bat. But I would like to see one change, and that is Sanju Samson coming into the team. If Shivam Dube is not bowling, then Sanju should be given an opportunity; we know he is good enough," Sreesanth said while speaking to ANI.
"The other day, when I spoke to him [Samson], he was hungry to get that opportunity. The form he is in, and apart from wicketkeeping, he is a superman fielder. I feel Sanju comes in last along with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. I think we can finish on a big score if we are chasing, with Virat being the chase master king. I don't see any score being that difficult for us to chase," he added.
Dube's spot in the team has faced scrutiny, particularly after he struggled with the bat against Pakistan and bowled only one over across three matches.
