Samson Takes Center Stage at India Nets as Rinku Returns Home
Indian cricketer Rinku Singh has returned home due to a family emergency, raising doubts about his participation in the upcoming Super Eight match against Zimbabwe on February 26 in Chennai. His absence from the training session at Chepauk two days before the match has implications for India’s lineup.
Rinku Singh’s Struggles and Potential Absence
Rinku Singh’s performance in the tournament has not been strong. His group-stage scores were 6, 1, 11*, and 6*, culminating in a duck during a significant 76-run defeat against South Africa in Ahmedabad. His potential absence creates an opening for Sanju Samson to rejoin the playing XI, particularly to balance the left-handed dominance in India’s lineup.
Sanju Samson’s Training Highlights
Sanju Samson featured prominently in India’s training session under the lights, showcasing noteworthy skills at the MA Chidambaram B nets. He was one of the first batsmen to face seamers Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, demonstrating quick reactions and impressive shot-making ability.
- Samson’s training showed resilience against short deliveries.
- He successfully connected on several powerful shots, earning attention from cameramen and local security.
- However, he struggled slightly against good-length deliveries, reminiscent of past challenges he faced during the series against New Zealand.
During the second net session, Samson regained his rhythm against spin, delivering a powerful six off spinner Varun Chakravarthy, showcasing his capability to adapt and improve.
India’s Strategy Moving Forward
Coach Ryan ten Doeschate has emphasized that India will evaluate their top-order options carefully before the match against Zimbabwe. The decision to include Samson could significantly affect the team’s balance, especially considering the opposition’s preference for matching off-spinners against India’s batting order.
- Kishan and Abhishek Sharma have faced off-spin challenges previously.
- Axar Patel is also a contender for the lineup after previously sitting out two games.
Pitch Conditions for Upcoming Matches
The match will occur on a black-soil surface, which has shown some grip for spinners but also value for shots. This pitch, previously used for the Afghanistan-New Zealand match, is centrally located, minimizing boundary asymmetry concerns.
Looking ahead, India’s last Super Eight fixture is set against the West Indies on March 1 in Kolkata. If India qualifies for the semi-finals, the match will occur in Mumbai on March 5, unless it involves Pakistan, in which case it will be held on March 4 in Colombo.
