India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Sanju Samson misses likely debut due to knee problem
India’s wicketkeeper and batsman Sanju Samson has missed a likely ODI debut due to a knee problem. Ishan Kishan was handed his ODI debut cap on his birthday in Samson’s absence.
Sanju Samson missed out on a likely opportunity to make his ODI debut in the opening game against Sri Lanka due to a knee issue. Going into the series, Samson had an upper hand over Ishan Kishan and was probably ahead of him in the pecking order. But he missed out on his likely debut due to an injury.
The BCCI delivered an update regarding Samson and revealed that he sprained a ligament in his knee. “Sanju Samson sprained a ligament in his knee and was hence not available for selection for this game. The medical team is tracking his progress at the moment,” the PTI quoted BCCI’s media team. Samson’s unavailability saw Ishan Kishan making his ODI debut on his 23rd birthday.
Samson had earned his maiden ODI call-up back in 2014 but is uncapped in the 50-over format. He has played 7 T20Is so far. It will be interesting to see if Samson is handed his maiden ODI cap in 2nd game or not. Kishan’s form in the opening game will have a major say in deciding whether he keeps his place in the final XI going ahead.
As far T20Is are concerned, both the batsmen are strong contenders to be part of the playing XI. Apart from Kishan, the team management also handed ODI debut to Suryakumar Yadav. The senior domestic batsman was a strong contender to play his first 50-over fixture on the tour and was given the opportunity right in the opening game. Suryakumar and Kishan had made their T20I debuts together – vs England in March 2021.
Talking of the game, Sri Lanka got off to a positive start and the first wicket pair of Avishka Fernando and Minod Bhanuka added 49 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal struck with the very ball of his spell and dismissed Fernando for 32.
