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Sanju Samson vs Rishabh Pant: The statistics conundrum

Considering that Samson has not been included in the squad for the upcoming series against Australia, things look bleak for the Kerala lad. Selectors might be backing Pant to play the T20 World Cup, but it appears to be a tightrope walk now.

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Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson

When Rishabh Pant made his first-class debut in October 2015, Sanju Samson had already stepped into the international arena, playing the T20 match against Zimbabwe the same year in July. Four and a half years down the lane, the 22-year-old Pant has played 11 tests, 15 ODIs and 28 T20Is, but not again has Samson managed to break into India’s playing eleven.

While Samson had been fairly consistent with his IPL performances, Pant outclassed him in the last two seasons with his explosive batting. In 2018 IPL, Pant amassed 684 runs at an average of 52.61 and a scarcely believable strike rate of  173.60. His 2019 season with Delhi Capitals was also brilliant for him, as he scored 488 runs at an average of 37.53 and a strike rate over 160.

Samson’s performances on the other hand were not bad at all. He has two IPL centuries under his belt, and an overall average of 27.61 and a strike rate of 130.24 in the Indian Premier League. Mentored by Rahul Dravid, he has played many crucial knocks for Rajasthan Royals in the tournament.

Dhoni’s successor

The rumours before the World Cup 2019 was that MS Dhoni would retire from international cricket after the tournament. The selectors also seemed keen to give more chances to youngsters than to the 38-year-old Dhoni.

Although the ex-Indian captain hasn’t announced his retirement, he hasn’t played a match after India’s World Cup semi-final loss against New Zealand in July 2019. He was also not part of any of the Indian squads announced after the World Cup.

What worked for Pant was the fact that he peaked at the right time. Considering his last two stupendous IPL seasons, the selectors hoped Pant to be the right person to take up India’s wicket-keeper mantle. The left-handed batsman used to instil fear in the opposition minds with his aggressive stroke making, something which Dhoni was also famous for. When Wriddhiman Saha took a break from cricket due to an injury, Pant also got a chance to play the longer format of the game in Indian jersey.

Being good was not enough for Samson.

Pant’s poor run in the recent games

But is Pant capable of carrying Dhoni’s legacy forward? The Delhi lad’s international stats belie his talent. He averages just 20.5 in T20Is from 28 matches. His ODI performances till date also have not been up to the mark – In 15 matches, he was able to cross the fifty run mark only once.  Although Pant averages over 44 in test matches, he was eventually replaced by Saha after a series of poor scores.

It is to be noted that Saha didn’t replace Pant straight away after coming back from injury. He was benched initially, but Pant’s struggles with the bat gave opportunity to the 35-year-old Saha to get back to the only format he plays for India.

And he grabbed it with both hands. Saha’s exceptional wicket keeping was a talking point in India’s recent test series against South Africa and Bangladesh. Although he averages much lower than Pant in tests, Kohli seems to trust his hands behind the stumps more than Pant.

Pant’s rash stroke making, which was earlier his prime weapon, eventually turned out to be a cause of concern. Some irresponsible shots in some matches made critics question his temperament. Adding to that the fact that he was supposed to be the replacement of Dhoni – someone who rarely makes a careless move – pressure kept mounting on Pant.

He was stuck in no man’s land – whether to continue playing his natural game that gave him the repute he has or to get back into his shell and play more meticulous inningses. Low confidence led to his downfall – his clean bat-swing went missing, while wicket keeping became an area for mocking.

The crowd chanting “Dhoni.. Dhoni” whenever he missed a chance behind the stumps was the evidence the public wasn’t happy with the long run given to Pant, despite his poor performances.

Can Samson break in?

Samson hasn’t got many chances in the Indian colours, but he is definitely breathing down the neck of Pant. In the Vijay Hazare trophy last year, the Kerala wicket-keeper batsman smashed an unbeaten 212 against Goa in just 129 deliveries, becoming the sixth Indian to hit a List A double-century.

Samson’s sound technique and ability to pierce gaps and hit big shots had been on display on multiple occasions in the IPL. However, despite his performances, he hasn’t got many opportunities. He was part of the squad against West Indies but didn’t get a game. He is also part of the team for T20Is against Sri Lanka – with one match to go in the series, it seems unlikely that he will be getting a chance.

Pant has the backing of his Captain and the selectors. Many experts have come in support of Pant, asking the public to not put extra pressure on the young dashing batsman. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently said that “Pant is a special talent… and selection should be left to the selectors”.

Considering that Samson has not been included in the squad for the upcoming series against Australia, things look bleak for the Kerala lad. Selectors might be backing Pant to play the T20 World Cup, but it appears to be a tightrope walk now. Because if Pant fails to perform in upcoming series as well, Samson should be given adequate time to get used to playing in the high level games before becoming India’s first choice wicket keeper for this year’s World Cup. India shouldn’t be going to the tournament without a clarity on this front.

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai says party will sweep Karnataka and emerge victorious in Telangana, accuses DMK, AIADMK of influencing voters in Coimbatore

Annamalai expressed his confidence of a historic result for the NDA on June 4, the IPS officer-turned-politician said the BJP will see a rise in its vote share in Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu BJP chief and party candidate from Coimbatore seat K Annamalai said the time of Dravidian politics is over and also accused the ruling DMK and AIADMK of spending Rs 1,000 crore in Coimbatore to influence voters. Annamalai made the statement after casting his vote at Uthupatti polling booth in Karur village on Friday.

He expressed his confidence of a historic result for the NDA on June 4, the IPS officer-turned-politician said the BJP will see a rise in its vote share in Tamil Nadu. Annamalai further added people of Tamil Nadu are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

He said in the state of Karnataka the party is expecting a clean sweep this time. The State BJP chief said the BJP will be the number 1 party in Telangana. He said he was confident that Tamil Nadu will deliver a very big resounding result this time. He said there will be a rise in BJP’s vote share in the state and time of Dravidian politics is over.

In Coimbatore, K Annamalai is contesting the election from Coimbatore and is facing DMK’s Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK’s Singai Ramachandran. All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will go for voting in the first phase. K Annamalai spoke to the media after casting his vote and accused the ruling DMK and AIADMK of spending more than Rs 1,000 crore in Coimbatore to influence the voters.

He said if the ruling DMK and AIADMK can bring 1 voter in front of the media to say that BJP is trying to influence them, then he will leave politics the same day because he is running in this election as a matter of principle. The elections to the state of Tamil Nadu will be closely monitored as the state has been at the centre of the BJP’s southern push in order to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 400 paar goal.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Newly married couple cast vote in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur, video goes viral

A video went viral amid the ongoing Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, where a couple went to cast a vote in Udhampur soon after their wedding, in their wedding dresses

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People from all walks of life have come together to participate in the biggest festival of democracy as the Lok Sabha elections for the first phase have begun. Voters of all ages, including first-time voters, exercised their right to vote during the first phase of the election. A bride and groom appeared at the booth to cast their votes in an unusual incident that took place in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.

The video of the couple is now going viral on the internet. Netizens are praising them for exercising their right. A user said these couples are inspiration to many. Another congratulated them and said they had set an example in the society.

Meanwhile, the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, which is comprised of the five districts of Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar, began polling at 7 a.m. despite bad weather.

In a simillar incident, Kapil Gupta married on Thursday and shortly after returned home on Friday morning, he cast his vote at a polling booth that was put up on the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Backward Classes Development Corporation Limited in Udhampur town.

He urged people to cast their ballots in big numbers, saying, voting is our right and must be done on priority.

Sahil and Radhika, another recently-wed couple, showed up at an election booth set up at an Udhampur school dressed as bride and groom.

The bride said, on Thursday, the day when they got married, she suggested to to her husband that they will go for voting. Although her vote was not there but she accompanied her husband to the polling booth.

She continued saying that she will be visiting her parents later in the day, which is in a nearby village to fulfil her democratic right as well.

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur-Kathua, voting is presently underway. However, despite of bad weather, people are going to polling boot to cast their vote. Voting is scheduled to end at 6 pm.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi, Dhanush vote in Chennai

Superstar Rajinikanth was accompanied by his publicist and his team at the polling both. He greeted everyone and flashed his inked finger for the media.

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Superstar Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan cast their votes at their respective polling booths in Chennai on Friday. Actor Dhanush cast his vote at the St Francis Xavier School, TTK Road. Vijay Sethupathi exercised his duty at the Chennai High School in Kilpauk.

Voting for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 started on Friday. The people of Tamil Nadu will go for voting in the first phase of the elections today. Rajinikanth was accompanied by his publicist and his team at the polling both. He greeted everyone and flashed his inked finger for the media.

A video shows superstar Rajinikanth arriving at his booth and exercising his duty is circulating on social media. He was mobbed by fans while exiting the polling booth. Actor Kamal Haasan, and Makkal Needhi Maiam president, arrived at his election booth to cast his vote. Actor Dhanush cast his vote at the St Francis Xavier School in TTK Road at around 8 am. Vijay Sethupathi cast his vote at the Chennai High School in Kilpauk.

According to reports Ajith Kumar was one of the first actors to cast his vote in Chennai. Social media user Ramesh Bala took to X and shared a video of the actor at the polling station. The actor was seen voting in Thiruvanmiyur early on Friday. Ajith, Rajinikanth and Sivakarthikeyan spoke to the press after voting and urged people to come out and exercise their duty.

Superstar Rajinikanth will be seen next in director TJ Gnanavel’s Vettaiyan. The film features an ensemble cast including Rana Daggubati, Fahadh Faasil, Amitabh Bachchan, Manju Warrier, and Dushara Vijayan, Ritika Singh in pivotal roles. Upcoming projects of Dhanush include Raayan, Kubera and Nilavukku En Mel Ennadi Kobam. Ajith was last seen in the 2023 film Thunivu. He is currently shooting for Vidaa Muyarchi, which is helmed by Magizh Thirumeni and also stars Trisha, Arjun Sarja, Regina Cassandra and Arav in important roles.

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