Watch: India A Captain Sanju Samson Receives Rousing Reception From Crowd During 1st ODI In Chennai

India A are currently squaring off against New Zealand A in a three-match unofficial ODI series. The ODIs are being followed by a three-match Test series, which India A won 2-0. The hosts also lead the ODI series 1-0, having defeated the visitors by seven wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. The second and third ODIs will be played at the same venue on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. After electing to bowl, India A bundled out New Zealand A for 167 in 40.2 overs.

Shardul Thakur was the pick of the bowlers as he ended the match with figures of 8.2-1-32-4. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Sen also returned figures of 7-0-30-3.

For the visitors, Michale Rippon (61) and Joe Walker (36) added 89 runs for the seventh wicket, after New Zealand A had slumped to 74 for six.

In reply, India A chased down the target with seven wickets, inside 31 overs.

After the early wicket of Prithvi Shaw, Ruturaj Gaikwad (41) and Rahul Tripathi (31) gave India a strong platform, before skipper Sanju Samson (29 not out) and Rajat Patidar (45 not out) took them across the line.

Samson received a rousing reception from the Chepauk crowd, as he walked out to bat in the middle.

"Sanju Samson" that's it.pic.twitter.com/XJNDqIv7qo

Earlier this week, India's T20 World Cup squad was announced and Samson did not find a place in even reserves. The right-handed batter than trended on Twitter, with fans upset over his non-inclusion in the line-up.

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India A squad: Prithvi Shaw, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Rajat Patidar, Sanju Samson (Captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Kuldeep Yadav, Shabhaz Ahmed, Rahul Chahar, Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Sen, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Navdeep Saini, Raj Angad Bawa

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