Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant is a debate that has been raging in IPL 2024. And yes, we have our own colleagues differ on the issue. Within our team, we have always encouraged difference of opinion and I am perfectly fine with it. My own position on the issue is clear, Samson has done enough to push his case and the consistency is a sign of maturity that can’t be ignored. As leader, it adds to his case. And may I say, he deserves an opportunity.
Sanju Samson in full flow is all class. The Rajasthan Royals captain has a lazy elegance about him and he can hit shots which many will not dare to attempt. In his case, he is blessed with extraordinary talent. It allows him to go through these shots without batting an eyelid. The question is, can Samson be the X factor India needs in the middle order alongside SKY (Suryakumar Yadav) in the ICC T20 World Cup?
For me, what has stood out in this IPL is his consistency. In many past editions of the IPL, Sanju Samson had started blazingly well but midway through the tournament lost form and fell by the wayside. That’s where he lost opportunities. It cost him an India place and perhaps a better career. All that has changed in this IPL, in the summer of 2024. Samson is calmer and has played some defining innings for the Rajasthan Royals. And he has been way more consistent than his counterparts. Against Delhi Capitals, he hit top form and was the difference between a RR win and a loss. The controversial decision may have cut short his innings, but by then he had made enough of a statement.
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For me, it wasn’t about the match, per se. Rather, it is the form Samson is in. And that’s where he stands out. He has this innate ability to continue to hit the ball despite wickets falling at the other end and make sure that a chase is never derailed. In modern T20 cricket, that’s what you need with the template constantly evolving.
Let me state this clearly, Samson has pushed the bar. And he has done so really well. He has made a case to earn a call up in the playing XI and it could well be possible India starts with both Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. In any case, it will be surprising not to see him in the XI in this kind of form. With RR already in the Playoffs (almost a certainty) Samson will get a few more games to push his case. And after seeing him on Tuesday night in New Delhi, very few will want to argue against him.
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