"Consistency Is Overrated In T20s": Cheteshwar Pujara Backs Sanju Samson

Former India cricketer and JioStar expert Cheteshwar Pujara has backed Sanju Samson amid concerns over his inconsistency in T20 cricket, saying a single good innings can help the wicketkeeper-batter regain his rhythm. Speaking on JioHotstar's Out or Not Out, Pujara said fluctuations in form are a natural part of T20 cricket and argued that consistency among top-order batters is sometimes overrated in the format. "He is never out of form. The kind of player Sanju Samson is in the T20 format, his form fluctuates. But it is always a matter of one innings. He plays one good innings, and he is back in form. So, you cannot say that this player is not in form.

"In the T20 format, you are bound to have failures. Who doesn't get out in T20s? Consistency should be there, but for top-order batters, I think consistency is overrated in T20s," Pujara said.

During the five-match T20I series against the West Indies, Samson finished as India's second-highest run-scorer, scoring 168 runs, including two half-centuries.

Pujara also shared his views on the possibility of Sanju Samson and 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi featuring together in India's playing XI during the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand, saying the team's combination and conditions could make it difficult for both players to play simultaneously.

He said New Zealand conditions could require India to field additional all-rounders, leaving limited room for specialist top-order batters. The five-match T20I series begins on October 22 in Christchurch.

"Vaibhav playing every game seems a bit difficult in New Zealand because you need more all-rounders there, either a spin-bowling all-rounder or a seam-bowling all-rounder. So, you don't need too many specialist batters, especially in the top order.

"Either Sanju Samson can open or Vaibhav. I don't think both can be part of the playing XI in New Zealand conditions," Pujara said.

However, he clarified that Sooryavanshi could still get opportunities during the series depending on team requirements, playing conditions and player fitness.

"So, Vaibhav will have to wait, but he will get opportunities. It's not that he won't play a single match in the entire series. I am not saying that. If a spot opens up for him based on conditions or a player's fitness, that's fine. But both Sanju and Vaibhav cannot be in the playing XI in New Zealand," he added.

India will tour New Zealand for a multi-format series, beginning with the T20Is, marking the teams' first multi-format bilateral tour in six years. The tour follows India's five-match T20I series against the West Indies, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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