Quick comment: Why India need to be bold and replace Shivam Dube with Sanju Samson in playing XI

Zero not out, 3, 31 and 10. These are Shivam Dube’s scores at the T20 World Cup so far. Against an Afghan side that was strangling India with their spinners, Dube was supposed to make a difference as he was selected for his ability to take apart the spinners, but he couldn’t.

While he has definitely been consistent in the IPL over the last three seasons, Dube’s struggles against pacers and his lack of footwork, especially to go forward even against the spinners, has continued to co-exist.

His game depends so much on that free swing of the bat but on these pitches where the ball stops a touch, he hasn’t been able to adjust. This IPL was on batting beauties but the T20 world cup pitches demands a bit more nuance than what he has shown so far. He isn’t the sort to play the deft touches and work the ball in the gaps. And he is also not the best when it comes to running between the wickets.

Former India opener Murali Vijay had talked about Dube on Star Sports. “IPL is a different ball game. International cricket is different and I can say Dube is not in form and is struggling…his feet are rooted because he doesn’t have the time to move forward. Australia and South Africa will definitely expose him,” Vijay had said.

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Will India be bold enough to bring in Sanju Samson who can be a floater anywhere in the batting order? With Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel around as left-handed batting options, India can afford to make a tactical change going forward. And if there is a time to do so, then this is it as it would also give Samson to settle before the important fixtures lined-up. Unlike Dube, Samson is equally good against spinners and pacers and can use his muscles to clear the ropes even if  fours are hard to score on these heavy outfields. On Thursday, India benched Mohammed Siraj and brought in Kuldeep Yadav. Maybe on Saturday, they will make one more change.

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