The 5th T20I between India and New Zealand is almost here, and everyone has one question: will Ishan Kishan replace Sanju Samson? With the World Cup right around the corner, the pressure is on.
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Sanju Samson is going through a really tough time. He hasn’t been scoring the runs we know he can, and this slump has been going on for a while. It’s a bit heartbreaking because he’s such a talented player, but his timing just seems off lately. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan is on absolute fire. Ever since he came back into the squad for this New Zealand series, he’s been unstoppable. Even with a small injury recently, he looks ready to take over.
India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, spoke about the situation. He was very supportive of Sanju, calling him a senior player and reminding everyone that even the best go through rough patches.
Kotak said. “He probably has not scored as many runs as everybody would like, but that's part of the cricketing career. Sometimes, you have five innings in a row where you score so many runs, and sometimes you have a little rough period. So it's all up to an individual how to keep his mind strong, and obviously, our job is to keep him in a good frame of mind. He practises, and he works hard. We all know what Sanju is capable of.”
As for Ishan Kishan, the coach seems hopeful that he’ll be fit to play the final match. Kotak mentioned, “Very likely, I think he will (play), as far as I know. The physios are here to watch him, and obviously they will take a call.”
It’s a tough choice for the team. Do they stick with Sanju and hope he finds his magic, or do they go with the man in form, Ishan Kishan? We'll find out tomorrow!
