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On Saturday, Sanju Samson found himself in a prime position to solidify his position in India’s playing XI for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Following his commendable performance in IPL 2024, where he displayed consistent batting prowess, the Indian team management opted to experiment with him as an opener against Bangladesh in New York.
Despite expectations for Yashasvi Jaiswal to partner captain Rohit Sharma at the top, the management decided to deploy Sanju Samson for the role. Coming off a stellar IPL campaign, the Kerala cricketer showcased exceptional form, guiding his team, Rajasthan Royals, to the playoffs. In fact, only four players outperformed him in terms of runs scored in the tournament.
Samson concluded the 17th edition of the IPL with an impressive tally of 531 runs, complemented by five half-centuries. His batting average of over 48 and a strike rate exceeding 153 underscored his remarkable consistency and ability to accelerate the scoring rate. Given his exceptional form, the warm-up game against Bangladesh presented an ideal opportunity for Samson to make a significant impact and earn the trust of the team management.
However, his innings was cut short as he managed just 1 run off six deliveries before being dismissed by fast bowler Shoriful Islam. Samson’s failure to capitalize on the opportunity did not go unnoticed, inviting swift criticism from disappointed fans.
In the ongoing match, India’s captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first. As of the latest update, India stands at 83 for 2 after 9 overs. Following Sanju Samson’s departure, Rohit Sharma also fell victim to Mahmudullah’s bowling. Despite getting a good start, the seasoned opener couldn’t capitalize on it, being dismissed for 23 runs.
Currently, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant are at the crease, steering India’s innings forward. Looking ahead to the main event, India finds itself in Group A alongside Ireland, Pakistan, Canada, and USA. Their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 commences with a match against Ireland scheduled for June 5th.
