Kishan has the World Cup ace but Samson is still in contention

World Cup race: With three consecutive ODI 50s, Kishan has made a strong case for himself, but Samson may get another shot at the Asia Cup if Rahul is unable to play.

World Cup Race, Ishan Kishan vs Sanju Samson

Ishan Kishan

Kishan’s Caribbean Player-of-the-Series performance could have decided the World Cup’s second wicketkeeper if KL Rahul is well. Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are uncertain for the Asia Cup, giving Samson an opportunity.

Rahul and Iyer are famous. “Resumed net batting and strength training.” Kishan and Samson’s Caribbean ODI debuts may be related.

In substitute for Rohit Sharma, Kishan scored 184 runs at 111.51 with a best of 77 in the 3rd ODI in Tarouba on Tuesday.

Samson:

Samson replaced Kohli in the middle after Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel. His 41-ball 51 in the decider showed more than his blistering batting and six-hitting. Samson averages 55.71 with 390 runs and three half-centuries in 12 ODIs.

Now this. Rohit, Shubman Gill, and Kohli may be India’s World Cup top three. Kishan can play No. 4, where Samson shines, as wicketkeeper. If Rahul isn’t available, team management must decide.

Three successive T20Is in Ireland have proven Samson’s middle-order credentials. Rahul and Iyer’s performances matter. Except for one place, the World Cup XI should play the Asia Cup opener against Pakistan on September 2 at Pallekele. Samson needs a great run in Malahide.

For now, it’s reasonable to infer that Kishan holds the aces, but Samson is very much in the running. If he does leapfrog Kishan, it could be because of a massive surge in form that convinces the team management of his readiness to play the middle-order enforcer better than Kishan. Either way, it’ll be a tough call for the selectors to make.