Former England all-rounder Kevin Pietersen has backed Sanju Samson for Team India’s wicket-keeper spot, instead of Rishabh Pant, claiming that the latter has been inconsistent.
Pietersen said that Rishabh Pant has been given a lot of chances but he hasn’t been able to show the consistency that is required to replace MS Dhoni.
“Rishabh Pant is someone who disappoints because we expect way too much from him. In order to get that spot and play international cricket, you need to show some consistency and improve.
“But I am seeing the same player for the past three seasons. For as long as he has played, he has been very inconsistent.
“But when I watch Sanju Samson, I see somebody completely different. The dedication and commitment that he put into, turning up for this year’s IPL that impressed me a lot. That actually got me backing him ahead of Rishabh Pant,” Pietersen told Star Sports during a pre-match show.
“Just purely from a diet basis, fitness basis, and the dedication, Samson seems to say ‘I want to go out there and do everything in my power to represent India’. And he’s got runs after runs.
He has failed a couple of times but what you need is that dedication which he has shown to fight back and improve as a player,” the former RCB skipper said.
Since MS Dhoni announced his retirement from the international set up, the debate over who should wear the gloves for India has been a hot topic.
While Pant has been groomed for the past two years by the management, Samson has entered the discussion due to his tenacious approach for the past two years.
Pietersen isn’t the first one to back Samson. Former Australian spinner Shane Warne and former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir have also backed the RR man.
However, Samson’s recent form might be a concern for him as he’s failed to contribute with the bat for the last four games of the ongoing IPL season.