When captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid get down to prepare their strategy for this year’s World T20 in Australia, they will have plenty of alternatives to choose from. While India has the luxury of having some of the best cricketers in the world, it can also be seen as an issue of plenty. There are, however, a few cricketers who are often regarded as being one step ahead of the others. Sanju Samson is one of these cricketers.
The Kerala-born batsman, who made his IPL debut in 2013 with Rajasthan Royals, has long been regarded as the next batting sensation. The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, is the latest to support the wicketkeeper-batter. Sharma feels Samson has everything he needs to be a successful cricketer, whether it’s the talent or the skills, but it’s now up to him to put it to good use.
“Samson has got potential, dude. Every time you see him bat in the IPL, he produces that innings where everyone goes crazy watching it, he has the skillset to succeed.” That is the entire idea of the sport; many people have ability and potential, but how you use it is the most important aspect,” Sharma stated during a news conference ahead of the next series against Sri Lanka.
It’s now up to Sanju Samson to decide how he wants to utilise and maximise his talent: Rohit Sharma is an Indian cricketer.
Samson’s exceptional shot-making talents and compact back foot technique, according to Sharma, might make him a vital hitter for India on the fast Australian pitches. The captain claimed that they believe the 27-year-old has the talent to succeed and that the team management can provide him with the confidence he needs to perform when given the chance.
“It’s now up to Sanju Samson to decide how he wants to utilise and maximise that skill, because we see a lot of promise and talent in that guy as club management.” I hope we instil that confidence in him whenever the chance arises. He is obviously taken into account, which is why he is a member of the team. His backfoot play is exceptional. You need that shot-making talent when you travel to Australia, and Samson has it. I simply hope he makes the most of his abilities,” he concluded.
Over the previous several years, the hitter has been in and out of the Indian lineup. While Samson has shown his skill in the IPL on multiple times, he has not been able to cement his place in the Indian team. He has played in eleven T20I matches for India, averaging little over 11 runs per game. Hearing his captain’s total trust in him, though, should have inspired some much-needed confidence in the right-handed hitter.