Indian wicketkeeper batsman Sanju Samson has spoken openly about not getting a single game in the last edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024 despite being a part of the squad. He has also emphasized on his rapport with captain Suryakumar Yadav and his gameplan for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
India have not lost a single T20I series since their victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Overcoming the lack of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the team, an unbeaten T20I team has been slowly built under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav.
Sanju Samson played a major role in helping India undergo its transformational phase. Unlike Shubman Gill, when Samson was promoted to open the innings, he formed one of the most explosive batting duo with Abhishek Sharma. Samson’s dominance continued throughout the 2024 season.
Sanju Samson opens up on being a member of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Sanju Samson was also a part of the Indian squad when Rahul Dravid was the head coach of the Indian team, but he got his main opportunity in 2024 under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir.
Starting the innings, Sanju Samson batted fearlessly and made full use of the powerplay. Samson became the first batsman to score three international T20 centuries in a calendar year in 2024.
The cricketer has recently spoken openly about not playing a single match for Team India after being selected in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Samson was part of India’s title-winning team along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yuzvendra Chahal and all three players did not play a single game in the tournament.
Speaking in a video uploaded on BCCI.TV, Samson said, “Talking about the 2024 T20 World Cup, I didn’t play any games. Yes, to be honest, things were a bit up-and-down. It didn’t match the expectations that I had set. But I’m still very grateful that I made it into the fifteen.”
Samson expressed his gratitude on his journey, saying, “I feel extremely happy and blessed to be in this position.”
The experienced right-handed star from Kerala, who previously played for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, said it was never easy to make it into the India team after coming from Kerala. He recalled an incident where he talked to a friend who wanted to play for India, but how tough the challenges were.
He said, “I was just sitting with my friend and chatting, and I was thinking about how we want to play for the country, coming from Kerala and how challenging it was and then where things are now. So, very grateful for the whole journey. I feel extremely happy and blessed to be in this position.”
“I have a very good relationship with Surya” – Sanju Samson
Despite his excellent form, Sanju Samson’s importance in the Indian team began to diminish after the return of Shubman Gill to the top order. It was not until the 5th T20I against South Africa that he was reunited with Abhishek Sharma at the top.
He claimed that he has a very good relationship with Indian team captain Suryakumar Yadav. He also reflected on how they often discuss ideas and questions related to the game.
“My role is very clear. I just have to make a positive contribution. I just have to go out there and make a positive impact. I still feel there’s more to do. In fact, I still have the hunger left in me to go out and contribute,” Samson concluded while giving some insight into his gameplan in the T20 World Cup.
Also read: Suryakumar Yadav’s successor named as India’s T20I captain ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
