Don’t compare Suryakumar Yadav with Sanju Samson, it doesn’t seem right: Kapil Dev

Cricket legend Kapil Dev has urged the fans not to compare Suryakumar Yadav with Sanju Samson after the 32-year-old had a horrid time in the recently-concluded ODI series against Australia.

Suryakumar was dismissed for three consecutive golden ducks in the series against the Aussies as fans slammed the batter and called for Samon to be included in the ODI team instead of the Mumbai batter.

Samson has an average of 66 in ODI cricket in 11 matches compared to Suryakumar’s 24.05 from 23 games. However, Kapil Dev feels that comparing both players doesn’t seem right.

Speaking to ABP News, the former India captain urged the fans not to compare Samson and Suryakumar. Kapil Dev also said that if the team management has decided to back Suryakumar, then he should be given more chances.

“A cricketer who has played so well will always get more chances. Don’t compare Surya with Sanju Samson, it doesn’t seem right. If Sanju goes through a bad phase then you will talk about somebody else. This should not happen. If the team management has decided to back Suryakumar Yadav then he should be given more chances. Yes, people will talk, give their opinion but ultimately it’s the management’s call,” said Kapil Dev.

“It’s very easy to talk after the match is finished. Maybe the idea behind sending Suryakumar at No.7 was to give him an opportunity as a finisher. This (shuffling of the batting order) is nothing new in ODIs. This has happened many times before. Yes, at times it can happen that a batter’s confidence is dented if he has been dragged down the order. But the onus rests on the player to tell his captain that ‘I can handle myself in the top order.’ The coach and captain must have taken the decision with particular thinking,” said Kapil Dev.