KL Rahul confirmed Sanju Samson will play ODI match at No 5 or 6 in a media interaction in Johannesburg, and clarified that Sanju Samson would be played in the middle-order. Rahul mentioned that he is prepared to continue both wicket-keeping and batting in the middle-order for the Indian side across formats.
“I will be handling the wicket-keeping duties and batting in the middle order in this ODI series and I am open to playing any role in the Test series including the wicket-keeping role.” KL Rahul stated in the pre-match press conference.
Sanju Samson was added as the stand-by player for the Asia Cup squad and also added for the ODI World Cup squad until August as KL Rahul was injured but did not secure a spot in the final roster for both the tournament and the World Cup. However, with Rahul recovering for the Super Four stage, Samson was sent back home and later ignored for the World Cup squad.
After three months Sanju Samson has returned to the Indian team for an ODI series against South Africa which will start on Sunday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa where Rahul will lead India in this three-match contest.
After the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Final, first time India made its ODI cricket comeback. KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, commencing on December 17 where the Indian team will be missing some prominent players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah.
KL Rahul confirmed Sanju Samson will play ODI match at No 5 or 6
KL Rahul revealed that Sanju Samson will have the chance to showcase his skills in the middle order during the upcoming series, as stated in the press conference before the first ODI.
“Sanju will bat in the middle order,” Rahul stated. “That is the role he has played whenever he has featured in ODI cricket. He will bat at No. 5 or 6. For now, I am going to keep wickets, but if there is an opportunity for him in that role, he will definitely get a chance at some point in the series.”
During this press conference, KL Rahul announced that Rinku Singh is highly likely to make his ODI debut in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa which will start on Dec 17. Rinku has now been in outstanding form in the Indian Premier League (IPL), in Australia & India T20I series, and against South Africa T20I. In 12 T20Is, Rinku has secured 262 runs at an impressive average of 65.5 with a striking rate of 180.68.
“Rinku Singh has shown what a good player he is. We all knew how skilled he is having watched him in the IPL, but what has been really good to see has been the temperament he has shown in the T20I series, and the game awareness and calmness under pressure. It was refreshing to see. He has performed well across formats in domestic cricket, so yes he will get his opportunity. Rahul also stated.”
Rinku Singh scored his maiden T20I fifty with 68* off 39 balls against T20I series South Africa.
India made some changes to the ODI squad, Deepak Chahar was replaced by Akash Deep, and Mohammed Shami was out of the Test series due to his fitness issues.
India ODI squad:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C)(wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep.
South Africa ODI squad:
Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Nandre Burger, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi.
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