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A video featuring Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, and star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been circulating widely on social media. This follows India’s thrilling super over victory in the final game of the three-match T20I series in Kandy on July 30.
The heartwarming moment captures Gambhir’s special interaction with Samson immediately after Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav sealed the win in the super over. It’s a poignant moment especially because Samson has been facing challenges, struggling to perform well during both the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe tours.
Gautam Gambhir’s support for Sanju Samson shines in India’s T20I series victory spotlight.
Sanju Samson’s opportunity to cement his place in India’s T20I squad has turned into a disappointing chapter. Despite being included in the playing XI for the last two T20Is against Sri Lanka, Samson struggled to leave a mark. The talented wicketkeeper-batsman faced a dismal series, managing to face only five balls across both matches, and his contributions were marred by two consecutive ducks. His woes compounded when his wicketkeeping skills came under scrutiny following three crucial dropped catches in the final T20I.
With an average below 20 in T20Is and sparse impactful performances in recent months, particularly highlighted by a lone innings of 58 runs against Zimbabwe, Samson’s inconsistent form raises serious doubts about his future in the team. In a squad brimming with emerging talents like Dhruv Jurel and Jitesh Sharma, who have shown more consistency at the highest level, the pressure mounts on Samson to deliver.
Despite Samson’s struggles, India managed to clinch a thrilling 3-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in the T20Is. The third match was a roller-coaster ride, with India initially on the back foot but eventually forcing a Super Over, courtesy of Suryakumar Yadav’s astute leadership. Yadav’s strategic decisions, coupled with Rinku Singh’s pivotal two-wicket over and the team’s resilience in defending six runs in the Super Over, secured a memorable win for India.
Amid the celebrations of India’s series triumph, a touching moment unfolded as head coach Gautam Gambhir embraced Samson, a gesture likely to uplift the spirits of the disappointed cricketer after his challenging outings.
Watch the Video-
Samson’s recent duck in the T20I series against Sri Lanka has put him on par with an unfortunate record: he now shares the distinction for the most ducks by an Indian batter in a single calendar year. This marked his third duck in 2024, following an earlier dismissal without scoring in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Bengaluru.
Out of the five T20I innings he has played for India this year, Samson has failed to score in three. His tally of three ducks in T20Is for the year now equals the record held by esteemed players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Yusuf Pathan, each of whom has also faced three ducks in a calendar year in T20Is.
