‘Sometimes you got to wait for your chances’ - Shikhar Dhawan on Sanju Samson’s omission

Stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan opened up on the reason behind sticking with Rishabh Pant despite his poor returns while not giving enough chances to in-form Sanju Samson. Pant was dismissed early yet again in the final ODI in Christchurch for 10 off 16 deliveries and he has endured a tough tour, scoring just 42 runs in four innings in the New Zealand series.  

Sanju Samson got just one opportunity in the entire tour, in the first ODI where he scored 36. Samson averages 66 in the 11 ODIs and has played at a strike rate above 100, however, he had to be benched in the second and third ODIs to accommodate the all-rounder Deepak Hooda in the playing XI.  

You have to see the larger picture and see who is your match-winner: Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan said that Pant is the proven match-winner on different occasions in the past and noted that the decision making had been based on the larger picture. He also praised Sanju Samson for capitalising on the opportunities but felt that the Kerala batter may have to wait for a long rope. He concluded that Pant’s past performances led to his backing despite the tough times for the left-hander. 

"Overall you have to see the larger picture and who is your match winner. You analyse and your decisions are based on that," Dhawan told in the post-match conference after the final game was washed out due to rain.  

"Of course, Sanju Samson has been doing really well in whatever opportunity he got. But sometimes you got to wait for your chances, because the other player has done well and we know based on his (Pant's) skill that he's a match-winner. So, you need to back him when he's not doing well," he added. 

New Zealand won the three match ODI series 1-0 with the second and third ODIs washed out.