World Cup 2023: All eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson during Asia Cup 2023 as only one of the players will secure a place in the 15-member for the ODI World Cup 2023. Both players featured in ODI series against West Indies. While Samson scored fifty in the final ODI, Suryakumar had a mediocre series scoring 19, 24, 35.
Ahead of the World Cup, the Asia Cup tournament will be a golden chance for Suryakumar and Samson to seal their place in ODI World Cup. The submission for the World Cup squad is on September 5. India will play two matches before that deadline during Continental Cup against Pakistan and Nepal. Both Samson and Suryakumar would be keen to make this opportunity count.
World Cup 2023: Samson, Suryakumar eye to seal World Cup 2023 spot
For the uninitiated KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer will make a comeback during World Cup after missing out on the West Indies tour. Both players will be in the playing XI, owing to their stellar performances in ODIs last year. With Shreyas and Rahul back, there will be room for only one of Samson and Suryakumar to fit into the playing XI. Suryakumar is backed for his X-factor ability, but till now, he has only shown glimpses of his form in the ODI format.
Surya has played 26 ODIs and has scored 511 runs with an average of 24.33. In ODIs, the MI batter has been used in the finisher role, but so far, he has been disappointed as he has failed to adjust to the tempo of the ODI format. Meanwhile, Samson has played 13 ODIs and has scored 390 runs. The wicketkeeper batter has been used in the floater role in ODIs.
Samson has scored according to the requirements of the team and shown flexibility in the batting lineup. But the problem with him is with India looking at Rahul as the first-choice wicketkeeper, Samson will only play as a specialist batter in the team. The Asia Cup will be a direct shootout between Surya and Samson, and the player who impresses the selectors more will most probably secure a place in the World Cup squad.
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