(BCCI Photo)
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter and national selector Saba Karim views the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe as crucial for Sanju Samson to cement his place in the Indian cricket team for the foreseeable future.
Karim expressed confidence that Samson possesses the skills to participate in all five T20Is on the Zimbabwe tour, contributing both as a wicketkeeper and a batsman. Despite being a member of India’s victorious squad in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, the 29-year-old did not feature in any matches during the tournament held in the USA and West Indies.
Sanju Samson should get to play all five T20Is at No.3 in Zimbabwe: Saba Karim
Former Indian selector Saba Karim hinted that national selectors might deploy Samson at number 3 in the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, commencing on Saturday, July 6 in Harare.
Highlighting the series’ importance for Samson, Karim, a former BCCI official and commentator, advocated for Samson to play all five matches in Zimbabwe at his preferred batting position of No. 3, where he has previously excelled.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Karim stated, ““I think it will throw up multiple options for the selectors going forward, and it will be good to see. These are exciting times for Indian cricket because now the transition will start with the Zimbabwe Series, and there are a number of newcomers who would want to cement their place in the side, even for the wicketkeeper slot. So, I know that they have, the selectors, tried out the number three.”
Karim underscored Samson’s potential but stressed the need for consistent performances to secure a permanent spot in the Indian team, a feat Samson has yet to achieve.
He also speculated that the national selectors might explore different batting positions for the Rajasthan Royals skipper, asserting that the Zimbabwe tour would be pivotal in shaping Samson’s future role.
Saba Karim anticipates significant challenges ahead for Sanju Samson during the transition phase.
According to the former Indian cricketer, Sanju Samson faces considerable challenges ahead despite his abundant talent and experience. Saba Karim also predicted that a strong performance in the Zimbabwe series could pave the way for more opportunities for Samson to prove himself in the Indian team.
Karim added, “He has done well in patches. He may get some more opportunities at number three. There is a strong possibility that they may want to bring him back down the order. So, there are a number of options available, but I think yes, if Sanju Samson gets to play five T20Is here, then at least going forward, if he does well, then he’ll get many more opportunities at that number because he is rich in talent. He’s got loads of experience now. He led the RR side quite well last season in the IPL, so there are some great challenges ahead for Samson.”
Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube left for Harare on June 6 after celebrating their T20 World Cup 2024 victory in Delhi and Mumbai. However, delays returning from Barbados due to a hurricane alert prompted the BCCI to make three changes to the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series.
In their place, batter Sai Sudharsan, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, and fast bowler Harshit Rana have been included in the Indian squad led by Shubman Gill for the upcoming T20I series in Zimbabwe.
