WI vs IND 2023: India are preparing Sanju Samson as back-up for KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, says Ravichandran Ashwin

India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels the team is preparing Sanju Samson as back-up for KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming ODI World Cup. With both Rahul and Iyer currently undergoing recovery, India is seeking their replacement in the middle order.

With Rishabh Pant unlikely to be fit, Ishan Kishan is currently donning the wicket-keeping gloves. It was recently reported that both Rahul and Iyer are doubtful starters for India in the forthcoming Asia Cup. In fact, it has been reported that Rahul could return before the World Cup but there are doubts over Iyer’s comeback.

Meanwhile, Sanju Samson has shown all the skills and ability but he hasn’t been able to grab his chances in the recent past. Samson scored a fine knock of 51 runs off just 41 balls in the third ODI against the West Indies but he was dismissed after scoring 12 and 7 in the first two T20Is.

There are a lot of expectations from Samson but he hasn’t quite proved his mettle thus far, which is a bit frustrating.

“Both (KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer) of them are coming out of injuries. I think they will return during the Asia Cup only. But who is the backup for either of them? If one of them is unable to return before the World Cup, and that’s why they have tried out Sanju Samson. They also tried Axar Patel at No. 4. I think they are keeping different strategies for T20 and ODI formats,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

On the other hand, Ashwin showered praise on India’s greenhorn batter Tilak Varma, who has impressed in first two T20I outings. Varma top scored with 39 off just 22 balls in the opening game and then scored his maiden fifty (51 off 41 balls) in the second game. In fact, the left-hander is the only Indian batter who has looked comfortable at the crease in the first two games against the Windies.

“The emergence of Tilka Varma has made everyone take notice of him. He looked in imperious touch even on that slow pitch in the first T20I. His batting style looked very unlike for an Indian making his international debut. His game resembles a lot of Rohit Sharma. He sweats on the pull. Generally, Indian batters won’t set up to play the pull shot. They will find the answer later as they will have all the other shots. Pull shot is something they will develop. But his game looks like has a natural pull shot and sends the ball outside the boundary rope like an Australian,” Ashwin further added in the video.

The third T20I of the series will be played at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Tuesday.