Sanju Samson returns after nearly a year away from the team

The absence of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant for the T20I series against Sri Lanka provides India with another opportunity to solidify their backup alternatives for the much-discussed middle-order. During the three-match T20I series, which begins February 24 in Lucknow, the spotlight will be on Shreyas Iyer and return man Sanju Samson.

Meanwhile, Sanju Samson returns to the T20I team for the first time since July 2021, with skipper Rohit Sharma asserting that the Kerala batter is part of the World Cup preparations. Samson, who made his debut in 2015, has just played 10 matches and has already made a handful of comebacks.

Samson is a proven performer in the Indian Premier League, having scored 2286 runs in 121 appearances with a strong strike rate, but he has yet to transfer that into international cricket.

“His back-foot play is exceptional.” Pick-up pulls, cut shots, and standing and delivering over the bowler’s head are some shots you may have seen in the IPL. Those kinds of images are difficult to pull off. And I feel you’ll need that sort of shot-making skill when you travel to Australia [for the next T20 World Cup],” Rohit stated on the eve of the first T20i.

“Samson has it in him for sure.” I simply wish him the best and hope that he realizes his full potential.

11 international appearances in 6 years and the highest score of 46 may not inspire confidence, but team management believes Samson can be the X-factor in the middle-order if he gets going. Some of Samson’s IPL knocks for the Rajasthan Royals attest to his approach, and India will be well-served if he can strike a regular patch at the top level.