Sanju Samson after his first World Cup call-up, received a powerful message from Gautam Gambhir.
After ten years, Sanju Samson is now a member of India’s World Cup team. When Samson was one of the 15 people to purchase a ticket to the USA and the West Indies, he finally realized his dream after years of disappointment and being burdened by a series of uneven returns. Samson received recognition for his outstanding IPL performance as well as his most recent Indian matches, in which he scored his first century in ODIs against South Africa in December of last year.
Furthermore, India needed a backup wicketkeeper after Rishabh Pant returned from a protracted injury, and Samson would be the best person to take the hammer.
Sanju Samson is currently a part of India’s World Cup squad, having been absent for ten years. After years of despair and being plagued by a string of unequal returns, Samson finally fulfilled his ambition when he was one of the 15 people to purchase a ticket to the USA and the West Indies. In addition to his most recent Indian matches, in which he scored his first century in ODIs against South Africa in December of last year, Samson was recognized for his remarkable IPL performance. Besides, Samson would be the ideal option to take the fall when Rishabh Pant returned from a lengthy injury, and India required a backup wicketkeeper.
“Now that you’ve gotten picked in the World Cup team, you have that opportunity—the kind that you need to make sure you start winning games for India if you get the chance. You have that experience of playing international cricket. You are not a newbie that you will wait any longer,” Gambhir told SportsKeeda.
You have tasted international cricket and you’ve done well in the IPL, and now you have the chance to play the World Cup. So, hopefully, Sanju shows the world what he is capable of at this stage. International cricket, that too in a stage like the World Cup, when you flourish, the whole world watches and takes note.”
Samson has been in red-hot form for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024. The recent slump of the franchise aside, Samson was instrumental in taking RR into the Playoffs by leading from the front, scoring 504 runs from 13 matches, including five half-centuries. He is currently sixth in the Orange Cap list behind Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Travis Head, Riyan Parag and Sai Sudarshan.
Gambhir looked back at the time when Samson had just emerged onto the scene. In 2012, when Gambhir, as captain, led KKR to their maiden IPL triumph, Samson was part of the squad but didn’t play a game. Twelve years is a long time ago, but even then, it did not take Gambhir time to recognise Samson’s potential. Gambhir recently confessed that letting Suryakumar Yadav go remains his only regret, but in hindsight, Samson possibly falls in the same bracket.
“Just the quality of a player. I don’t need to see much. Five minutes are enough to figure out what kind of a player he is,” Gambhir said. “Mentally, you always grow, and skill-wise as well. Otherwise, if you get stagnant, you won’t be able to survive for too long. The good thing is be it fitness, power-hitting, keeping or captaincy… he has not put a foot wrong. Through captaincy, you start accessing, judging better, reading better. That is when you also become a better batter. I hope Samson’s captaincy reflects on his batting at the T20 World Cup if he gets a chance.”