MUMBAI: Wasim Jaffer, a former India opener, said that middle-order batter Sanju Samson should be considered for the Indian team but not at the expense of Rishabh Pant due to his success in international matches this year.

Samson has struggled to secure a spot in the Indian white-ball team after amassing 179 runs in seven T20I matches this year at an average of 44.75 and 248 runs in nine ODI matches at a fantastic average of 82.66.

He has been in and out of the team, and the selectors decided to go with Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik over the Kerala gloveman for the next T20 World Cup in Australia. Jaffer believes that given Samson's recent outstanding performance in the ODI series against South Africa, he should be given more opportunities.

Samson scored an unbeaten 86 in the first game of the three-match series against South Africa to force extra innings. Although his effort went in vain as India lost the match, he scored crucial unbeaten 30 runs in the second match and was unbeaten on one run in the series decider in New Delhi.

"Sanju Samson has unquestionably greatly impressed me. His consistency has always been in doubt, but he proved it in this series. He failed to help India win the game in the first match but won it in the second and was still alive for both (all three) games "ESPNCricinfo was told by Jaffer.

The former captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy is sceptical, though, that Samson's advancement shouldn't come at the expense of Pant.

"I feel we forget his series-winning century in England very easily.  In one-day cricket, that was. He's not very consistent in T20 cricket, especially at numbers four and five, but I don't believe anyone has yet challenged him in Test and one-day matches. In one-day cricket, Rishabh Pant cannot be replaced, despite the fact that K.L. Rahul can keep wickets and Sanju Samson has shown promise. Sanju Samson should be considered due to the way he plays, but not at the expense of Rishabh Pant "Jaffer said.

The selectors would therefore be faced with a challenge of how to integrate Samson into the team's plans following the T20 World Cup.

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