'He should have got more chances' - Sanju Samson's coach on his comparisons with Rishabh Pant

Since the day Mahendra Singh Dhoni has taken an indefinite break from the limited-overs cricket, everyone in the cricket community has their opinion on who should take his place. The team management and the selector’s term Rishabh Pant as their biggest investment. There are some takers for Sanju Samson and KL Rahul as well. However, after a log run given to Rishabh, the search finally seems to end at Rahul.

Still, the debate is far from an end. The left-hander was selected as the deputy wicketkeeper a while back. However, after a series of disappointments with both bat and gloves, Sanju Samson, a young keeper from Kerala was given a chance. But as soon as KL Rahul wore the gloves for the first time, his batting ability also improved which made him the first choice of the skipper and Team management.

Though Sanju Samson fans and his coach feel that the opportunities given to the right-hander were quite less as compared to the other two contenders. Speaking to The Times of India, his coach Biju George said that as Rishabh was is a left-hander, he got more opportunities as compared to the Rajasthan Royals keeper.

“If you ask me as a person who is close to Sanju, I would say he should have got more chances. But if you look at the Indian team’s point of view – why they are giving Rishabh Pant so many chances? First, he is a left-hander, obviously. Second, Indian team strategies. They might have the World Cup in mind, where they might come up against a team which has got quality left-arm spinners or leg spinners, or a left-arm fast bowler, and that time Pant will be useful. This is my opinion,” he said.

Sanju Samson was given the opportunity in New Zealand

The 25-year-old was given the opportunity in New Zealand where he played 2 T20Is. Where he scored a total of just 10 runs in two innings. Biju also mentioned that it is up to the management to decide who suits the team balance the most and giving more opportunities to someone wasn’t done deliberately.

Notably, both Pant and Samson will be playing in IPL from September for Delhi and Rajasthan respectively. One of the reasons for Sanju to get fewer chances for India could be because of the fact that he is a top-order batsman and Indian Team has a packed top order in shorter formats.

“That’s up to the team, captain and coach to take the decision. That the chief selector should decide who is the best suitable to be in the team against an opposition – Pant or Sanju? I don’t think this is coming out deliberately not to give anybody a chance,” Biju added.