‘Consistency is overrated in T20’: Pujara backs Samson ahead of New Zealand series

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has backed after the conclusion of the West Indies series, saying that the concept of top-order batters being consistent in T20 cricket is overrated. He further added that Samson could come back into form with one big knock during the

The wicketkeeper-batter amassed 168 runs in five innings against West Indies and was the second-highest run-scorer for India in the five-match series, behind skipper Shreyas Iyer.

“Consistency should be there, but for the top order, I think consistency is overrated in T20s. He is never out of form. The kind of player Sanju Samson has been in the T20 format; his form fluctuates. But it is always a matter of one innings,” Pujara said while analysing Samson’s fluctuating returns on JioHotstar’s ‘Out or Not Out’.

“He plays one good innings, and he is back in form. So, you cannot say that this player is not in form. In the T20 format, you are bound to have failures. Who doesn’t get out in T20s?” he added.

‘Samson and Vaibhav can’t be part of same playing XI’

The five-match T20I series ended in a 2-2 draw after the final T20I against West Indies was washed out due to rain. The Men in Blue are now headed to New Zealand for an all-format tour, which begins on Thursday with the T20 series. Pujara said that it will be difficult for Vaibhav to play in every game.

“Vaibhav playing every game seems a bit difficult in New Zealand because there you need more all-rounders, either a spin all-rounder or a seaming all-rounder. So, there you don’t need a lot of batters, especially in the top order,” Pujara said.

“Either Sanju Samson can open or Vaibhav. I don’t think both can be part of the playing XI in New Zealand conditions. So, Vaibhav will have to wait, but he will get opportunities,” he added.

The five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand will begin on October 22 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.