‘Think tank will not learn and never change’ - Former India cricketer criticizes Sanju Samson's absence in New Zealand T20Is

Even after Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan failed to perform as per expectations in the second T20I against New Zealand at Bay Oval, the team management showed enough faith to back the cricketers for the third T20I, which eventually denied Sanju Samson from getting any opportunity in the T20I series. 

Now, despite India winning the series 1-0, the lack of opportunities for Samson, Shubman Gill and Umran Malik has once again raised speculations about India’s approach in the shortest format of the game. Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh took a jibe at the team management and mentioned how the Indian team never learns from their mistake.

"By picking Iyer ahead of Samson the Indian think tank has reiterated that they’ll not learn from their mistakes and they shall never change their approach towards T20,” Ganesh tweeted after the third T20I against the Black Caps.

By picking Iyer ahead of Samson the Indian think tank has reiterated that they’ll not learn from their mistakes and they shall never change their approach towards T20 #DoddaMathu #crickettwitter #NZvIND

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) November 22, 2022

The only change in the Indian team saw Harshal Patel replacing Washington Sundar in the playing XI. Despite being average with the new ball, the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh absolutely decimated the Kiwi middle order to restrict them to 160. India, while batting second lost a few quick wickets and were 75-4 after 9 overs when the rain started to pour down. Being levelled on DLS, the umpires called the match to be a tie.

Hardik Pandya backs his decision, states the reason behind dropping Sanju Samson

The stand-in captain of the Indian team, Hardik Pandya revealed his intention of playing Sanju Samson in the recently concluded T20 series but because of the team combination, he couldn’t hand him the opportunity. However, the 29-year-old revealed that everyone will get a lot of chances in the future to cement their position in the XI.

“If they are sitting out… Sanju Samson, for example: we wanted to play him, but for whatever reason, we couldn’t. But I can get into their shoes and understand how they are feeling. As a cricketer, it is difficult, whatever one might say. You are in the Indian team, but you are not getting a chance in the XI, so that’s difficult. At the end of the day, I can say whatever I want, but those will just be words. It will still be difficult for them to deal with. But if I can create a healthy environment, where the players can come and speak to me if they are feeling bad, or go and speak to the coach, if I remain the captain, I think it won’t be a problem. Because my nature is such that I make sure everyone is together,” Pandya said in the post-match press conference.

“What people are saying from outside, it doesn’t matter much at this level. This is my team, firstly. The coach and I will pick the team we feel is right. There’s a lot of time, everyone will get a chance, when one gets a chance, he will get a long run. If it was a longer series, if there were more matches, obviously opportunities would have been given. But when it is a short series, I don’t believe in chop and change and in future also, I wouldn’t believe,” the cricketer concluded.