Former cricketer Saba Karim of India foresees that the series of T20Is taking place against Zimbabwe will become vital for Sanju Samson if he seeks to make his place in the team secure, over time. According to Karim, Samson has the right set of skills to play all T20Is in the current scenario, both as a wicket-keeper and batsman. Even though the 29-year-old player was among those listed on Team India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victorious team, he never participated in any match during the tournament.
India has undergone a significant change in Rishabh Pant’s T20I squad since his recent comeback from injury, albeit he had spent a long time off-action due to ailments but has now rejoined the squad in very good form. Nonetheless, RR’s skipper in the just concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), Samson really tried hard showing a lot of tenacity using the bat plus keeping gloves alongside stumps.
Some were beginning to speculate whether Samson might be in line for his long awaited chance to play for India’s first team at the twenty-twenty world cup or not, however Rohit Sharma; the captain had faith in pant throughout that period. During an interview with Sony Sports’, Saba Karim pointed out that a series against Zimbabwe would be very important if the young man wants to have any chance in the team and thought that it was possible that he would bat at three due to the fact that the selectors might pick him out.
“I think so. The series the way I see it, if he is fit he should play all five twenty- matches and that also at number three,because that’s his favourite position and he has performed well that way .I guess it provides many other alternatives to the selectors moving ahead which will be interesting. These are exciting times for Indian cricket because now we will move into transition from the Zimbabwe Series and there are many newcomers.” Said Karim
Karim further added,”He has not done too badly in some patches.He may get some more chances in that position.There is a good chance that they may want to push him down the order. So there are many options that other love but I feel if Sanju Samson gets 5 T0Is then at least many more will be headed his way at this figure if he performs well and as is known for his talent.“Halos” now burdens him. He is approaching menopausal age. As a matter of fact he capably captained the RR side in the last season so there are some challenges waiting for him.”
The returning dates for the touring squad that consists of Samson, as well as Jaiswal and Singh among others have not yet been confirmed with regards when they would join their fellow members back home in Zimbabwe after being held up in Barbados where they had gone to play some matches following Hurricane alert there. BCCI is said to have made three changes to this squad prior to its departure for that African nation, bringing on board batter Sai Sudharsan, keeper-batter Jitesh Sharma and quick Harshit Rana.
