Sanjay Manjrekar opines that India vs Ireland series could be make or break for Sanju Samson

India’s Sanju Samson during the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Pic/AFP

While India's red ball team is busy preparing to take on England in the one-off Test, India's limited-overs team will battle Ireland in a 2-match T20I series from June 26th onwards.

With the likes of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer included in the Test team, Sanju Samson and Surya Kumar Yadav have earned a recall into the T20I squad. The duo are expected to slug it out for the middle-order slots. However the pair's international record couldn't bare starker contrasts.

Yadav has already proved his mettle in limited-overs games at the international stage, whereas Sanju Samson has failed to take his opportunities thus far.

Ex-India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar reckons this might be Samson's last shot with the national team considering the abundance of top-quality batsmen that India can call upon.

According to IANS, in a virtual interaction organised by Star Sports, Manjrekar said,"I have got no doubt about Surya kumar Yadav; he's more consistent and reliable and somebody who is likely to be in the squad for the T20 World Cup"

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"Sanju Samson's time at the international level hasn't been great. But there is something about him that we have seen, so let's hope that he will be turning a corner. For him, these opportunities are God-sent and very precious."

"If he doesn't fire, then those opportunities won't come along because he's been there for a while and got opportunities to play for India."

Samson averaged a decent 28.6 across 17 IPL games this season albeit with an impressive strike rate of 146.8. He not only presents India with an attacking middle-overs option as a player but can also keep wickets well.

Unfortunately for Samson, both departments are well stocked and a failure to impress against Ireland may lead to an indefinite international exile for the Rajasthan Royals skipper.

(With inputs from IANS)