Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson returned to the playing eleven and opened the innings in place of the injured Shubman Gill in the final T20I of the five-match series in Ahmedabad.
After India’s win, Irfan Pathan asked Samson whether there was clear communication between him and the team management.
In response, Samson downplayed the question and said that he shared a good relationship with Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir. “The team environment, as Irfan bhai mentioned, is very important,” Samson said. “A big tournament is coming up, but I’ve been in the system for a long time and have enough experience, so I knew what the management was trying to do. I have a good relationship with Surya and Gautam bhai, so we always have open and frank conversations.”
After warming the bench throughout the series, Samson provided a brisk start, adding 63 runs off 34 balls with Abhishek Sharma. The 31-year-old played an aggressive innings and looked in good touch before being dismissed by a beauty from George Linde after scoring 37 off 22 balls, including four fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 168.18.
Samson enjoyed a brilliant 2024 in T20Is, scoring three hundreds. The right-handed batter provided several strong starts for the team. However, he lost his opening spot to Gill, who was brought back into the side and immediately appointed vice-captain. Many experts criticised the team management for leaving out Samson when Gill failed to perform consistently after his return.
When Irfan asked whether Samson would open regularly, he replied: “Brother, you make me open, what else can I say! You can’t ask questions like these, Irfan bhai.”
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