19 & Counting... SKY-fall makes terrible case ahead of World Cup at Sanju Samson's expense

Suryakumar Yadav and the ODI format is probably a worse story than Twilight. 19 innings earlier SKY managed an ODI fifty and now ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023 he is making a poor case for himself. Though being selected in the World Cup squad, repeated poor performances will pave the way for Sanju Samson to be selected in the India Squad for the World Cup.

Suryakumar’s last ODI fifty came more than a year and a half ago. His highest ODI score of 64 not out came way back in February of 2022 and since then 19 innings have passed and the World Number 1 batter in T20Is hasn’t found his groove in the fifty-over format

Last 19 innings of SKY in ODIs since his Fifty

Versus	Runs	Ground
West Indies	6	Narendra Modi Stadium
England	27	Lord’s
England	16	Old Trafford
West Indies	13	Queen’s Park Oval
West Indies	9	Queen’s Park Oval
West Indies	8	Queen’s Park Oval
New Zealand	4	Eden Park
New Zealand	34*	Seddon Park
New Zealand	6	Hagley Oval
Sri Lanka	4	Greenfield International Stadium
New Zealand	31	Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
New Zealand	14	Holkar Cricket Stadium
Australia	0	Wankhede Stadium
Australia	0	Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium
Australia	0	MA Chidambaram Stadium
West Indies	19	Kensington Oval
West Indies	24	Kensington Oval
West Indies	35	Brian Lara Stadium
Bangladesh	26	R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

In the recent clash against Bangladesh in the Super 4s against Bangladesh, SKY was presented with yet another chance to showcase his worth and he was disappointed again. After getting off to a slow start he managed to slam 3 boundaries and kept rotating the strike. But he failed to play the long game before being bowled out by Shakib Al Hasan.

Watch: Prince makes mark in King’s absence, Gill smashes 5th ODI century

Chance for Sanju Samson?

SKY’s repeated poor performances will surely provide an opportunity for Rahul Dravid and the BCCI Selection Committee to ponder over their choices. What is the next best alternative? Sanju Samson is waiting in the ranks.

The Rajasthan Royals skipper was a traveling reserve for the Indian team during the Asia Cup. He lost his keeper’s place to KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan. In terms of cementing his spot in the middler order, he was ranked lower than the likes of Shreyas Iyer and SKY. The Kerala batter is now back home and preparing on his fitness.

Yet another failure for Suryakumar Yadav in the ODIs.

India lose their 5th wicket 139.

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— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) September 15, 2023

Sanju Samson was not selected in the 15-member squad for the ICC World Cup. But Shreyas Iyer’s injury concerns and consistent poor performance by SKY in the ODIs can surely pave the way for Samson to get his name included in the World Cup squad. Interestingly, Tilak Varma who got his ODI debut also failed with the bat and will surely fall below the pecking order for the World Cup when compared to the likes of Samson.