Sanju Samson lived up to the expectations, probably for the first time in T20Is for India on Saturday (October 12). During the third and final T20I of the ongoing three-match series against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, the 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter top-scored for the hosts by hammering 111 runs from just 47 balls. During his stay at the crease, he smashed 11 fours and eight sixes for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side and helped him win the match by 133 runs. For his super show with the bat, Samson won the Player of the Match award.
Speaking to reporters after playing one of the best T20I knocks by an Indian batter, Samson revealed how getting clarity about his batting position from head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav helped him prepare well for the series.
According to the Kerala-based cricketer, who made his T20I debut in July 2015 and was part of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning side as well, Gambhir informed him three weeks before that he would be opening for India in the T20I series against Bangladesh, and that gave him sufficient time to prepare well.
“Three weeks before the series, I was very fortunate to get a message from the leadership group that I will be opening. So that gave me time for proper preparation. I went back to the Rajasthan Royals academy and was playing lots and lots against new balls. It helps a tiny bit that I was 10% more prepared in the series rather than the other series.” Samson said.
He praised the captain and coach by saying that he was a bit doubtful about being picked for the home series after getting out for two ducks in the last series against Sri Lanka, but the ‘leadership group’ has fully backed him.
“I think a lot of credit has to go to the dressing room, the leadership group. I think the captain and the coach have been backing me like anything. I think, like I was a bit doubtful after a couple of ducks in Sri Lanka, that I will be getting a chance in the next series. But they backed me, and they kept on saying that we would back you no matter what. I just think we have committed, as a group, as a batting group, to go out and dominate each and every game we play in this format.”
Speaking about his batting, the 29-year-old cricketer said, “I have understood my game that I can bat anywhere from 1 to 6. I think I have power, and I also have timing in my game. So, it’s all about working according to which role I am playing in.
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