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The India national cricket team has already lost the five-match T20I series against England, and with only one match left, many former cricketers want the team management to try a different playing XI. After England’s impressive nine-wicket win in the fourth T20I in Bristol, former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has suggested making some major changes for the final match in Southampton.
The last game of the ongoing T20I series may not change the result, but it is still an important chance for India to test the players and end the tour on a positive note. Parthiv believes that the team should not continue with the same combination after the embarrassing performance. Earlier, MSK Prasad informed about Sanju Samson being dropped from the Zimbabwe tour.
Parthiv Patel wants India to drop Tilak Verma for Sanju Samson
As expected, Parthiv Patel has demanded the return of Sanju Samson to India’s playing XI for the fifth and final T20I against England in Southampton on July 11. The wicketkeeper-batsman failed to perform well in the first T20I in Ireland and then against England and was dropped from the team.
Despite being dropped from the team, Parthiv feels Samson deserves another chance as India need to look at different combinations ahead of the three-match T20 series in Zimbabwe later this month. He said that if Samson returns to the team then Tilak Verma should sit out.
Parthiv Patel said on JioHotStar, “It is difficult. You will obviously ask, if Sanju Samson has to come into the team, who should replace him? I will actually make two changes. One is that I will replace Washington Sundar with Suryansh Shedge in the team so that you have four bowlers, and Shivam Dubey and Shedge can bowl two overs each for you.”
Parthiv Patel suggests two major changes for the final T20I
He stressed that every player can go through tough times, and sometimes a change can improve the overall combination, and Tilak has also struggled during the England series. He scored only 11 runs from eight balls before being dismissed in the fourth T20I.
Overall, he has not been able to play the match-winning innings that the team expected from him. Parthiv also believes that young all-rounder Suryansh Shedge should be included in the playing eleven in place of Washington Sundar for the final T20 match. The move will allow India to play four specialist bowlers. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kaif expressed surprise at Tilak Verma’s inability to play spin.
“Who will replace Sanju Samson? Unfortunately, I think the vice-captain will have to be removed because, if you want a combination, Sanju Samson can replace Tilak Verma,” the former India wicketkeeper-batsman said.
Despite supporting Tilak Verma, Parthiv Patel supported Sanju Samson’s comeback.
However, Parthiv made it clear that dropping Tilak for one match should not be seen as a long-term decision. He still believes that Tilak is an important player for India’s future and has the talent to come back strongly, but he wants Samson to return for the final T20 match.
He concluded, “Akshar Patel was the vice-captain in the World Cup, and he sat out the South Africa match as well. If the combination is not getting set, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that Tilak Verma will be out of your thinking or plans, but short-term, for this match, I would like to bring Sanju Samson in place of Tilak Verma.”
