Despite making his international debut way back in 2015, Sanju Samson hasn’t been able to cement his position in the playing XI in the Indian cricket team. Initially playing in the shadows of MS Dhoni, Samson took a while before he could showcase his mettle and skills at the international stage.
Even though he struggles with consistency at the international stage, Sanju Samson is a cricketer who brims with a lot of talent. Take for example, the Indian Premier League (IPL): Sanju leads Rajasthan Royals (RR) and is one of their key assets.
Over the years, Samson has carved his niche in the high-profile IPL, courtesy his stupendous batting prowess that underline explosiveness and sublime timing.
In the Asia Cup 2023 squad of India, Sanju Samson has been named as a travelling reserve. Several cricket pundits slammed this decision of the Indian cricket team as they felt the wicket-keeper batter from Kerala deserved a chance in the team.
In this article, we take a look at 3 reasons why Sanju Samson deserves more chances in the Indian team:
1. Sanju Samson has a stupendous ODI average
Having played 13 ODIs so far, Sanju Samson has had a scintillating average of 55.7. Sanju Samson has been good in this format and has performed well, whenever he has been given an opportunity.
In his brief ODI career so far, Sanju has logged 3 fifties and has grabbed on to the opportunities, whenever entrusted on him. Therefore, he should be given more chances in this format.
2. He is a very flexible batter
Versatility is one of the key components of Sanju Samson’s batting manual and he has used that well. Samson can bat higher up the order and can also play as a solid option for India in the middle-overs.
As he is quite flexible, Sanju Samson could well hold fort from one end, in case there is a batting collapse of the Indian cricket team in some game. Samson also is a buccaneering batter and can smear the bowlers through sheer timing and power.
3. Samson has never received a long rope from the Indian team
The likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul have always received a lot of opportunities from the Indian team management. Even though they haven’t been able to fire on some occasions, they have been shown trust.
The same should have been applicable for the 28-year-old wicket-keeper batter from Kerala, but unfortunately, it isn’t the case. Sanju Samson has never played consistently for a long time and has been judged based on a few performances.
Considering he is extremely talented, experienced in the IPL and offers a wide variety of options, Samson could be an important cog for India in the future.
Also read: 3 Reasons Why Washington Sundar Can Play A Crucial Role For India In The ICC ODI World Cup 2023
