Sanju Samson failed to make the most of a golden opportunity to cement a place in the Asia Cup 2023 squad. 24 hours before the squad selection meeting, the Kerala superstar looked set for a huge score to turn the decision in his favour. However, after an up-and-down cameo, the 28-year-old gifted his wicket away to wash away his hopes.
The selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar will convene in Delhi on Monday to decide the Asia Cup squad. Indian Cricket Team captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid will also attend the meeting. The committee will deliberate on a 17-man squad and whether Sanju makes it is anyone’s guess.
While the Rajasthan Royals skipper averages in excess of 55 in ODIs, he has often been guilty of throwing his chances away. Even in his final ODI, Sanju Samson raced to 51 off 40 balls, before failing to temper his aggression.
On Sunday, Samson was handed another chance to make an impression. He struggled early on, striking at close to run a ball, unlike his natural instincts. He then gears, taking on Joshua Little. The 28-year-old smashed a hat-trick of boundaries before clearing the boundary for his only six.
Just when Samson looked set for a huge score, he brought about his own downfall. Trying to hoick Benjamin White through the covers, an inside edge brought about his downfall. Samson had the chance to bat until the end, but instead fell short with more than 7 overs to spare.
