Danish Kaneria has picked Sanju Samson as his first-choice for Team India‘s captain during the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. While the former Pakistan spinner acknowledged that Shikhar Dhawan is the favourite to lead Team India in the limited-overs series, he wants to see them groom Sanju Samson as the captain for the future.
Team India will play three ODIs and three T20Is in July against the Lankan Lions. The BCCI selectors are expected to announce a second-string squad as the senior members of the team will be in the UK for the upcoming World Test Championship Final against New Zealand, starting June 18.
Kaneria feels the management should groom Sanju Samson. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “Shikhar Dhawan is likely to get India’s captaincy in Sri Lanka. Not Shaw, Samson… but Dhawan. But if it were up to me, I would have to go with Samson.”
“We should be ready, that in future, if Virat is willing to step down as captain, then he should be the next in line. We have to be ready that if Kohli isn’t around, we need to groom someone. So I would go with Samson but Dhawan remains a strong contender,” he added.
After failing to impress in the T20I series against Australia last year, Samson was overlooked by the team for the white-ball series against England on home soil earlier this year.
Since Samson is yet to make his ODI debut, Kaneria’s choice might seem a bit radical as the wicketkeeper-batsman isn’t a guaranteed starter in the team. Further justifying his pick, he said how Samson has time on his hands to improve as captain, whereas Dhawan will not be around for long.
“Shikhar Dhawan is a senior player in ODIs and T20Is. however, is he a long-term option to lead India in the future? Or Samson has the time and opportunity to improve himself going ahead?
“Or will Hardik Pandya be captaincy material? All these are tough questions. But as far as I am concerned, I will go with a player who, in the future, can lead India,” Danish Kaneria explained.