{
  "id": 17713960,
  "title": "'Sanju mera first-choice': Ashwin comes to Samson's defence after New Zealand series struggles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/sanju-mera-first-choice-ashwin-comes-to-samsons-defence-after-new",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand/sanju-mera-first-choice-ashwin-comes-to-samsons-defence-after-new-zealand-series-struggles-delivers-witty-response/articleshow/135433751.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After a challenging T20I series against New Zealand, Ravichandran Ashwin defended his first-choice wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson when faced with criticism on social media. Samson's struggles persisted in the series finale, as he scored just four runs in the fifth match. A social media user pointed out Samson's disappointing run and questioned Ashwin's continued support. Ashwin responded with a playful comeback, saying, \"Sanju mera first-choice, tumhara full-time obsession.\" Samson's performances throughout the series were 67, 14, 18, 4, and 4, with his opening half-century followed by a slump in his scoring. The right-hander's inconsistent form has sparked a selection debate, with young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerging as a potential alternative. Sooryavanshi scored four and 45 runs in the five-match series, showcasing an aggressive approach that has added another layer to the ongoing selection discussion, despite his early stage in international cricket. India began the series with a strong 3-0 lead, winning the first three matches, but New Zealand bounced back by winning the next two to secure a 3-2 series victory.",
  "summary": "Sanju Samson's performance in the T20I series against New Zealand raised eyebrows, as he could only amass 67 runs over five encounters. His struggles culminated in just four runs during the final match, prompting discussions about alternatives like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ravichandran Ashwin lightheartedly responded to critiques on social media. After initially leading 3-0, India concluded the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ravichandran Ashwin defends Sanju Samson as first-choice wicketkeeper-batter.",
    "Sanju Samson scores four runs in series finale, sparking selection debate.",
    "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerges as potential alternative with aggressive approach."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}