Indian men’s team head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to take credit for Sanju Samson’s impressive form in the shortest format. Recently, Samson became the first Indian cricketer to score back-to-back centuries in T20Is.
Samson has been fans’ favorite due to his playing style and has rose in stature due to his leadership success with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL 2024 saw him produce his best-ever tally of 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of over 150 and helped the side to seal the playoff spot.
Samson stunned the onlookers with his sensational knock of 111 off 47 balls against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last month, as India went on register their highest T20I total of 297. In the first fixture of the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, he returned with a 107-run knock off 50 balls to help the side get a winning start.
After the game, Samson thanked captain Suryakumar Yadav, coaches Gambhir and VVS Laxman for backing him during his failures. In fact, Surya and Gambhir advised the keeper-batter to assemble all spinners in Kerala to improve his game against them.
However, Gambhir thinks it’s Sanju Samson’s talent and hard work which has shone through in his recent performances. He thinks it’s just the start of something special for the 30-year-old.
“Not at all; I think it’s nothing to do with me. I think it’s his ability. It was all about giving him the right number and backing him. I think ultimately it’s his hard work. What he is doing for Indian cricket is just the start; it’s not the end. Hopefully he can continue taking this form forward,” Gambhir said about Samson during India’s pre-departure press conference in Mumbai.
Sanju Samson surpassed Ishan Kishan to create another T20I record
Sanju Samson’s impressive knocks helped him to surpass Ishan Kishan in terms of most runs as a keeper for India in T20Is. He jumped to the third spot with 412 runs in 16 innings at an average of 29.42. Kishan has 369 runs in 16 appearances at an average of 24.60.
Former captain MS Dhoni is the most successful keeper-batter for India in T20Is, with 1,617 runs in 85 innings at an average of 37.60 and a strike rate of 126.13. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is second with 996 runs in 54 innings at an average of 23.71.
Sanju Samson will return to action in the third T20I of the ongoing South Africa series on Wednesday (November 13) in Centurion. The hosts leveled the series 1-1 on the back of impressive bowling performances.
