NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson was not the part of the second ODI between India and New Zealand which was washed out due to incessant rain in Hamilton on Sunday still the wicketkeeper batsman managed to win the hearts with his noble gesture.
There were a number of stoppages in the match due to rain and the ground staff was seen having difficulties in dealing with the covers amid breezy wind. But Samson, who was on the ground that time, decided to land the helping hand to the staff.
Questions were also raised on Samson's exclusion from the match despite playing a decent 36-run knock in the first ODI. India made two changes to their playing eleven as Deepak Hooda and Deepak Chahar replaced Samson and Shardul Thakur.
On being asked why Samson was dropped, skipper Shikhar Dhawan said: "We wanted the sixth bowler to come in, so Sanju Samson missed out and Hooda came in."
India were 89 for 1 in 12.5 overs when a second stoppage sealed the fate of the game as there was no possibility of having a minimum 20-over per side match within the stipulated cut-off time.
The match was reduced to 29-overs-a-side as the first interruption caused a four-hour break. India were 22 for no loss in the fifth over at that time.