Samson vs Rinku: Kaif's bold World Cup XI call

Former player Mohammad Kaif suggests Sanju Samson over Rinku Singh for India's T20 World Cup clash vs Pakistan. Stats and analysis inside.

Mohammad Kaif has advocated for Sanju Samson's inclusion in India's playing XI over Rinku Singh for an upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan, contingent on Abhishek Sharma's availability. Kaif suggested deploying Samson in the middle order, a strategy previously employed by the team during last year's Asia Cup.

Kaif reasoned that an opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and a middle-order Samson would bolster the batting on a turning pitch, especially against Pakistan's spin attack. He expressed concerns about Rinku Singh's current form, implying the batter might be under pressure.

Examining T20I statistics since the start of 2025, Rinku Singh has scored 141 runs in eight innings with an average of 28.20 and a strike rate of 127.02. His highest score is 44 not out.

Sanju Samson, in contrast, has accumulated 290 runs across 17 innings with an average of 17.05 and a strike rate of 133.64. His best score during this period is 56.

In T20I victories since 2025, Rinku has scored 102 runs in seven innings, averaging 25.50. Samson has recorded 222 runs in 13 innings, averaging 17.07.

Regarding chases, Rinku has scored 43 runs in two innings with a strike rate of 138.70. Samson has managed 101 runs in eight innings while batting second, averaging 12.62.

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