Aakash Chopra has praised Sanju Samson for his knock on Sunday in the first T20I between India and Bangladesh in Gwalior.

He recalled Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach of the India National Cricket Team, commenting on the wicket-keeper batter.

The Men in Blue dismissed Bangladesh for 127 runs and then completed the target easily. He scored 29 runs off 19 balls as the hosts won the contest by 7 wickets and 49 deliveries to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

“You need to talk about Sanju Samson. Abhishek played another aggressive innings but he got run out. Gambhir said long back that if Sanju Samson doesn’t pay for India, it is India’s loss. He was given a chance to open,” Aakash Chopra said.

“He didn’t try to hit the ball hard and played smartly. He struck one four after another,” he added.

Samson amassed six fours in his knock. Aakash further said that Sanju Samson should have tried to extend his stay at the crease.

“It is good he scored 29 runs. He should have tried to bat for a long duration of time. He needs runs otherwise, he will be dropped. Samson keep coming in and going out of the national side, and even his batting order is not fixed.”

Hardik Pandya played the best knock of the evening, with an unbeaten 39 runs off 16 balls.