Ireland T20Is: Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson set to be in playing XI

24.06.2022 - 16:37 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson will be returning to the India playing XI in place of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant in the two-match T20I series against Ireland starting Sunday.

While chief coach Rahul Dravid is in Leicester with the Test squad, National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman, who is in charge of the T20I side for this particular series, is expected to follow the template set by 'The Wall'.

With Iyer and Pant in the Test team, Surya, who is making a comeback from a wrist injury, and Samson, who is looking to make use of what could be his last chance to prove his worth, will be sure-shot starters.

Surya has been a regular in the Indian T20I side for the past one year and will only get his place back. But as far as Samson is concerned, his alternative could be Deepak Hooda, who can also bowl a couple of overs of handy off-spin, besides possessing an ability to hit the ball hard.

cricket bowling Rohit Sharma Rahul Dravid Hardik Pandya Asia Cup Ishan Kishan Ireland India Chennai Sanju

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Experimentation will go out of the window as India will get down to finalising their best eleven for the World Cup during the three-match T20 series against an ultra-aggressive England, beginning here on Thursday. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the fifth Test in Birmingham after contracting COVID-19, will be travelling to the port city on Wednesday and is expected to feature in the series-opener. Test players including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant will join the T20 squad from the second game onwards.

"A Player Who Belongs To Rohit Sharma's Category": Former India Batter On Sanju Samson

Former India batter Aakash Chopra was impressed with Sanju Samson's performance in the second T20I against Ireland. Samson scored 77 runs off 42 balls as the Hardik Pandya-led Team India posted a massive total of 225/7 after opting to bat first. Samson replaced Ruturaj Gaikwad in India's playing XI after the latter was ruled out of the game after picking up an injury while fielding in the first T20I. While analysing the second T20I, Chopra likened Samson's batting style to that of Rohit Sharma.

Watch: Umran Malik Holds His Nerve To Defend 8 Off 3 In Last-Ball Thriller vs Ireland

Ireland gave India a run for their money despite the visitors posting a daunting total of 225/7 in the second T20I at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin. Displaying bravery in their batting, the Andy Balbirnie-led side pushed the match to the final delivery, but ended up four runs short. With George Dockrell and Mark Adair both in an explosive mood, India captain Hardik Pandya turned to young pacer Umran Malik, playing just his second game for the country, for the final over, with Ireland needing 17 off it.

Watch: Crowd In Ireland Goes Wild When Hardik Pandya Names Sanju Samson In India Playing XI

India sealed a thrilling four-run win over Ireland in the second T20I to seal the two-match series on Tuesday. India made three changes for the second T20I against Ireland, with Sanju Samson, Harshal Patel and Ravi Bishnoi getting a nod in the playing XI. As India captain Hardik Pandya announced the changes in the playing XI, the crowd present at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin went wild upon hearing Samson's inclusion in the team. Even Hardik had a smile on his face after hearing the crowd's roar.

Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson register highest partnership for India in T20I cricket

Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda on Tuesday registered the highest T20I partnership for India with 176 runs off 85 deliveries here at The Village in Dublin. With this milestone, the duo broke the record of the 165-run stand of India skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan (1st wicket) are in the third spot with 160 run partnership stand against Ireland in Dublin, 2018. Hooda and Samson achieved this feat during the match against Ireland, smashing 104 and 77 respectively to guide their team's total to 225/7 in the second match of the two-match T20I series.

Ireland vs India: Deepak Hooda Happy For "Childhood Friend" Sanju Samson After Record Partnership

Deepak Hooda played a spectacular knock of 104 runs as India managed to defeat Ireland by just four runs in the second match and clinch the two-match T20I series 2-0 on Tuesday. For the visitors, it was the 176-run partnership between Hooda and Sanju Samson that guided their team to a total of 225 runs. At the post-match presentation ceremony, Hooda, adjudged as the Player of the Match and the Series, expressed great delight to see his childhood friend Sanju doing well.