'Two wrongs don't make a right' - Ashish Nehra questions team management over selection tactics

Sanju Samson was surprisingly dropped from India’s playing XI for the ongoing second One Day International against New Zealand at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. The fans were left annoyed with this and instantly slammed the team management on social media. Deepak Hooda has made way for him.

Meanwhile, former India pacer Ashish Nehra has also expressed his disappointment as he openly questioned the management’s selection tactics. At the same time, the pundit urged the team management to show some stability going forward.

However, Nehra did make it clear that had he been a selector, then he would have given first preference to Hooda over Samson since the former had played in the T20 World Cup.

“I hope they haven't picked Deepak Hooda for his bowling. You have Washington Sundar, yes, he bowled well, picked up a few wickets in the T20Is. He's your sixth option, but not a great sixth option. Two changes India have made today, first thing, I don't feel two wrongs make a right because it's not that Shardul Thakur hasn't done well. But before Thakur it should have been Deepak Chahar. Now you have gone with Thakur and it is harsh to drop after one game,” said Nehra while speaking to broadcasters Prime Video.

“Even if you see Sanju Samson, I would have played Hooda ahead of Samson because he was part of the World Cup squad and suddenly he is nowhere. So it's difficult for Hooda as well as Thakur," he added.

The Indian team management was criticized after their seven-wicket defeat in the last game where the critics argued that the Men in Blue were short of a bowler as New Zealand successfully chased down 306. Thus, they decided to include Deepak Hooda and Deepak Chahar at the expense of Sanju Samson and Shardul Thakur to add more depth in their bowling.

Nonetheless, Samson would consider himself unlucky as he was benched despite scoring a valuable 36 runs off 38 deliveries in the first match. Moreover, he was also involved in a crucial 94-run stand along with Shreyas Iyer for the fifth wicket.