After India’s poor batting performance in the third and final ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday in Christchurch, the Rishabh Pant vs. Sanju Samson debate once more came into the spotlight. The visitors were bowled out for 219 in 47.3 overs, and vice captain Pant only managed to score 10 runs off 16 deliveries while Sanju was left out to warm the bench. As the hosts hold a 1-0 lead over the three-match series, India must win the final ODI, but they won’t be able to challenge the Kiwis. 

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant were tasked with stabilizing the Indian innings after the opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill left early. However, by and by, the wicketkeeper-player played a miscued shot and holed it out to Glenn Phillips close to deep square leg boundary off Daryl Mitchell’s delivery. Due to the fact that the team management had preferred him over Sanju Samson, Pant’s dismissal caused a storm on the social media platforms. 

The Delhi cricketer was the target of a vicious online attack by people who compared his batting statistics to those of his Kerala teammate.

Shashi Tharoor, a well-known politician, joined the bandwagon and harshly criticized Pant, stating that the youngster needed a break. The member of Parliament went on to say that Sanju won’t be in the squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour, so he won’t be able to show off his batting skills until the IPL. 

One more failure for Pant, who clearly needs a break from white-ball cricket. One more opportunity denied to @IamSanjuSamson who now has to wait for the @IPL to show that he’s one of the best too-order bats in India. #IndvsNZ https://t.co/RpJKkDdp5n

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 30, 2022

Actually, Tharoor’s comment was a retweet of a post he made after the third ODI started on Wednesday morning. The politician highlighted the disparity between the stats of the two cricketers in his previous tweet, adding that Sanju was benched once more despite having a higher average than Pant. 

"Pant has done well at No. 4, so it is important to back him," says @VVSLaxman281. He's a good player out of form who's failed in ten of his last 11 innings; Samson averages 66 in ODIs, has made runs in all his last five matches & is on the bench. Go figure. @IamSanjuSamson

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 30, 2022

Washington Sundar, on the other hand, scored his first ODI fifty to help India reach just 219 against New Zealand. India’s innings never really got going on a pitch with a lot of grass and lateral movement and cloudy conditions until Sundar stood up and hit five fours and a six in 64 balls to get the visitors past 200. 

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Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, struck a useful 49 while the other batsmen struggled and succumbed to a disciplined bowling performance by New Zealand. Daryl Mitchell’s use as the fifth bowler for the hosts was a masterful move, scoring 3/25 in seven overs.