Graeme Smith praised Sanju Samson and KL Rahul for their impressive performances in the IPL, highlighting their strong contention for India’s wicketkeeper slot in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Sanju Samson and KL Rahul’s stellar performances in the IPL have heightened the competition for India’s second wicketkeeper position in the upcoming T20 World Cup, according to former South African captain Graeme Smith. With the squad announcement for the June event nearing, Rishabh Pant is expected to secure the primary wicketkeeper-batter role.
Smith lauded both players for their contributions, noting how Rahul partnered effectively with Deepak Hooda while Samson’s partnership with Dhruv Jurel stood out. Despite Rahul’s crucial dismissal, Smith commended their efforts and highlighted their strong candidacy for World Cup selection. In their recent IPL outings, Rahul scored 76 runs for Lucknow Super Giants, whereas Samson’s unbeaten 71 off 33 balls propelled Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable seven-wicket win.
“They (Rahul and Samson) needed to build a partnership. Rahul did it with (Deepak) Hooda and Sanju did it beautifully with Dhruv Jurel. The difference was that Sanju finished the game, while KL got out at a key phase. But it was brilliant to see both excellent players put their hands up for World Cup selection,” said Smith on JioCinema.
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Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee further praised Dhruv Jurel for his crucial contribution of 52 not out off 34 balls in support of Samson during their unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership worth 121 runs. Lee commended Jurel’s batting, noting his ability to play all formats of the game and adapt his approach as needed.
Notably, Graeme Smith echoed Lee’s sentiments, highlighting the ease with which Jurel and Samson chased the target. He also emphasized the strength of the Rajasthan Royals squad, citing the presence of match-winners like Shimron Hetmyer and praising their overall performance.
Last Updated on April 28, 2024
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