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Currently, Team India is engaged in a warm-up match against Bangladesh, their solitary preparatory fixture ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. This encounter is being held in New York. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, won the toss and elected to bat first. Notably, Virat Kohli is absent from the lineup for this match, a decision Rohit announced during the toss, citing Kohli’s late arrival, just a day prior to the game.
The surprise doesn’t end with Kohli’s absence. Team India’s management has sprung another unexpected move by appointing Sanju Samson to partner Rohit Sharma in opening the innings, contrary to the anticipated choice of Yashasvi Jaiswal. This decision has raised eyebrows, considering Samson’s lack of experience in opening the innings, especially during the IPL, where Jaiswal was a consistent opener, albeit with mixed results. The speculation now revolves around who will partner Rohit in the main event, but for now, this tactical maneuver has caught many off guard.
Delving into Samson’s credentials, the batsman showcased an impressive performance in the IPL 2024 season, captaining the Rajasthan Royals and emerging as their second-highest run-scorer. Across 16 matches, he accumulated 531 runs, embellished with five half-centuries. This World Cup marks Samson’s debut on the global stage, and he aims to etch a memorable chapter in his cricketing journey.
Here are some of the reactions to Sanju Samson opening the innings for Team India in the warm-up game:
