‘Sorry to say, but ..’ – Danish Kaneria lashes out at star India batter about his recent form

Sanju Samson, an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, has come under fire from Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria for his subpar performance in the just-completed T20I series against the West Indies. Samson’s unwillingness to take advantage of the opportunities offered throughout the tour, according to Kaneria, is entirely his own fault.

Samson scored a promising 51 runs against the West Indies in the third ODI, but his performance in the subsequent T20Is saw a significant decline, with just 32 runs from three innings. Samson wasn’t the only subject of Kaneria’s critique; he also questioned the management of the Indian team’s tactical decisions, specifically their choice regarding Mukesh Kumar.

“Sorry to say, but you had enough chances in this series, but you weren’t able to deliver. This is his own fault. The selectors or anyone else shouldn’t be blamed, it was completely his fault. Sanju Samson should blame himself if he remains out of the team for a long time now,” Kaneria remarked on his YouTube channel.

Danish Kaneria also opined on Umran Malik’s situation

“With Hardik Pandya there, you cannot play Mukesh Kumar, as both of them have a similar pace. Umran Malik bowls very fast, but is wayward. Wouldn’t it have been better if India tried out Umran by playing him in all matches in this series? It would have increased his confidence,” the Pakistan leg spinner added.

As the second Indian player to make his debut in all three formats on the same tour, Mukesh Kumar recently created history. However, Umran Malik’s raw speed could prove to be an asset with the right supervision, according to Kaneria, who felt that this opportunity could have been better used to develop his potential.

The focus now changes to the tactical decisions that the team management will make as the Indian cricket team prepares for its forthcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland. Danish Kaneria’s insights serve as a reminder of how crucial Umran Malik’s selection and tactical deployment were to the team’s victory.