'Tripathi, Samson aren't likely to get chances' - Aakash Chopra prefers Deepak Hooda for Ireland T20Is

The Indian team announced the squad for the upcoming two-match T20I series against Ireland on June 15 (Wednesday). There were no surprises in the team but fans were pleased to see Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson in the 17-man squad list. However, former Indian batter Aakash Chopra feels that both the players will not get a chance in the starting eleven on the Ireland tour. He also reckons that Deepak Hooda deserves to play ahead of the duo.

Samson was a shocking exclusion from the ongoing T20I series against South Africa despite scoring 450-plus runs at a strike rate of 146.79 in IPL 2022. Tripathi has also been scorching big runs for the last two seasons in the IPL and totally deserves a national team call-up. Both players batted at the number three position in the IPL but will find fierce competition for the middle-order positions on the Ireland tour.

Deepak Hooda may ask why he’s being picked if there’s no place for him in the eleven: Aakash Chopra

Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad are all set to open the innings and captain of the series Hardik Pandya will play at the number five position, as a finisher. That leaves the third and fourth positions available to grab with Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Hooda also in contention. The latter is also included in the ongoing South Africa series but didn’t get a chance in the first three matches. Chopra believes that Suryakumar is likely to be played at the number three position as he needs match fitness and Hooda deserves the fourth spot in the team.

“When Pant isn’t there (at no 4), the big question is who will replace him? Will it be Sanju Samson or Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi? Sky has the third spot, opener’s slots are covered by Ishan and Ruturaj. If we go by the pegging order, Deepak Hooda deserves the fourth spot. I will be thinking they should play Hooda, even at no five. Pandya can bat at no 4,” Chopra said in his latest YouTube video.

“When looking from this perspective, doesn’t look like Tripathi will get a chance, nor will Samson. There are just two T20Is – how many changes can you expect? I’m not 100 percent certain if they will get a chance (to play). But if they do play Samson/Tripathi then Hooda may ask why he’s being picked if there’s no place for him in the eleven,” he added.