‘Jab coach tha tho sirf peeke baita tha kya’ -Fans react as Ravi Shastri talks about Sanju Samson ahead of West Indies Tour
India announced the Test and One Day International teams for the tour of the West Indies. When it came to the Test side, Cheteshwar Pujara faced the axe due to a poor showing with the bat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Pujara scored 41 runs in two innings in the summit clash against Australia. Meanwhile, it was great news for Sanju Samson as he got a recall back into the Indian side for the One-Dayers.
Ravi Shastri was in full support of Samson’s inclusion. “Sanju Samson is a match winner, I will be disappointed if he does not finish his career all guns blazing, it is like when I was the coach, I would have been disappointed if Rohit Sharma had not played in my side as a regular Test player”. Shastri said to the Week. When Shastri talked about this, many fans were critical of him and asked why Samson was not given enough opportunities during his tenure as India’s coach.
Sanju Samson has played 11 One Dayers for India and scored 330 runs
A few fans discussed Shastri’s attitude change since he stepped down as India’s coach. They pointed out that Shastri is the exact opposite of what he was as a coach. The fans were also thrilled that Samson was given just a reward by getting selected for the tour. The man from Kerala has scored 330 runs in 11 matches in One Day Internationals. He has an average of 66 and a strike rate of 104.76. The right-hander has struck two fifties.
Samson last played ODIs for India in the series against South Africa at home just before the start of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Regarding other notable inclusions and exclusions in the ODI squad, Jaydev Unadkat keeps his place in the Indian side from the Australia series before the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mukesh Kumar has been selected both in the Test and ODI squads mainly due to the death-bowling exploits that he has shown in domestic cricket and also in the IPL 2023 when he played for Delhi Capitals. The right-armer picked up 7 wickets in 10 games at an economy rate of 10.51.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
According to Ravi Shastri, Indian Fans are
blind and deaf and dum. We saw how you have been picking up squad's in your term, kindly don't be this silly in this social Media era. #BCCI— SR Cricket Fantasy (@CricketFantasyS) June 24, 2023
Then why he didn't gave chances to this match winner,bahar nikalne k bad sab kuch kitna bhadia lagta hI
— STARK (@starkt3000) June 24, 2023
We all know the selectors use Samson to fill gaps and let others have a long rope to do whatever they want.
— deNoronha (@deNoronhaUK) June 24, 2023
Man, Sanju Samson needs to just take a single after hitting a big shot. Just that. Too ofren goes for the big shots one after the other and gets out. Take a single after a four or a six. He is powerful and a sweet timer of the ball. Just this little change and he will thrive.
— Nihar Bhagat (@bhagat_nihar) June 24, 2023
Sanju is a All Format Player
& I think this will be the best time for him.— Main Hoon Giaan (@IamDevjit07) June 24, 2023
But when Ravi Shastri was the coach why he didn't gave chance to Sanju Samson why suddenly talking about him after getting sack then who's stopping Sanju in the team ?
— Rosh 🩷 (@Jab_ImetSanju) June 24, 2023
But the same man didn't give him chances and made him to sat on bench when he was a coach. Wasn't he disappointed then?
— Jothish (@jothishgr) June 24, 2023
Only Sanju Samson can fill the place of Rishabh Pant, no one else in the World Cup. History is witness that a reliable wicket-keeper has brought India out of difficult situations. #MSDhoni𓃵 #SanjuSamson
— Parth Pandya (@ParthPa28871305) June 24, 2023
Ravi bhai bas karo ab 😭
— Abhishek Hanbar (@abhi_ph17) June 24, 2023
Isne khudke time par daru peene ke alawa kuch kara nahin, wo to kohli aur bowlers ki wajah se team overseas tests mein aur sabke effort se wo australia mein series jeet gaye to usi baat ki shekhi bagharta rehta hai.
Yaad hai sab ki kaise harne par chup jaata tha ye aur jis din
— Noone (@UdtaS) June 24, 2023
