Sanju Samson had played South Africa four times in the shortest format prior to attending the Ahmedabad T20I. Each time he failed to get out on a duck, he scored a hundred runs against them. A love romance of redemption’s narrative arc guaranteed a recurrence. But unlike the most beloved twisted tale, the story of live sports can be more unpredictable.
On Friday, Samson lofted Ottneil Baartman past the line on the up for a boundary in the fourth over, indicating that a good knock was loading. At 16 from 8 balls, he had hit his third boundary of the innings. Something exceptional was emerging from a rough beginning.
On Friday, Samson managed to secure a spot in the team at the cost of Shubman Gill, the player assigned to the starting position, where Samson appeared to have performed well enough to earn his spot. Before the last game, Gill hurt his foot hitting in the nets, which prevented him from playing in the series. But in Lucknow, Samson was unable to bat because the fog made it impossible to play.
He was heading to Ahmedabad, his first and only chance of the series, and he knew he had to make the most of this one chance. He wasn’t going into the unknown, though. Over the course of his more than ten-year international career, Samson has mostly taken advantage of these fleeting opportunities. For the wicketkeeper-batter in international cricket, it has been all too common to make that one chance matter without knowing when the next one would come.
Since Suryakumar Yadav became captain in July 2024, he has played in 27 of his 52 Twenty20 Internationals, which has been his most reliable run. Despite reaching three hundred runs and establishing himself in international cricket at that time, he was forced to give way to Gill at the top of the order and, in this series, to Jitesh Sharma in the role of finisher.
Samson’s break in this series couldn’t have arrived at a better moment.
In addition to Gill’s lack of runs, India’s worries at the top of the order, where he promised to provide an option, have been exacerbated by Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form.
India’s final outcome has been unaffected by the lean spell of its captain and vice-captain thanks to Abhishek’s scorching form. The lens is focused on one major issue, though, as there aren’t many weak points on this team. Samson is expected to offer the in-form southpaw, who has been carrying the majority of the run-scoring duty in the PowerPlay, a solution and help.
Even though he was thrashed and had the lead early in his innings on Friday, Samson didn’t back down. He went back to where he had left off. He began by playing a leisurely pick-up shot in the second over, which resulted in a six over long-on.
After that, clear limits began to flow naturally. After hitting a boundary down the ground, he hit a six over the middle of the wicket. With no safety nets, he felt at ease taking the chances. It pleased him to face the fielders in the deep when the ball entered his slot. He was even in danger of being captured by a leading edge. But his gears remained the same. A unusual occurrence, he not only outscored Abhishek during his innings but also outpaced India’s top T20 batsman right now.
At a moment when Samson appeared to be well-positioned for a big knock, a delivery from George Linde pitched in the middle and held its line to knock over the stumps and sudden end his stay. It was an unpleasant moment for Samson as his ambitious innings came to an end.
The team management’s Samson-Gill dilemma would have been resolved if Samson had been fired early in Ahmedabad. However, Samson’s argument that he is undroppable would have been strengthened if he had played a big innings. But what are they left with after a 22-ball 37?
Though it definitely hasn’t done enough to strengthen his case, Samson’s innings may not have hurt him. He has produced this kind of contribution far too frequently in the IPL, which may have impeded his advancement to the national level.
Fortunately, Gill hasn’t yet shown the kind of performance that would support the team management’s choice to start Samson instead of him. Jitesh also didn’t have enough chances to make an impression in his position.
In an era where India’s top order is overburdened with two underperforming players, how alluring is it to bring Samson back? Samson gave the Indian selectors a little headache with his innings on Friday, but has he done enough to put a solution in front of them? Or had he wasted that chance?
The cogs are currently operating perfectly to keep the wheel turning smoothly, but despite Surya’s second dismal performance—this time on a flat track—one question remains at this time: how long can the Indian team avoid changing it?
With just five Twenty20 Internationals remaining before India enters the World Cup, the answers might be forthcoming. Before the mega-tournament, Samson has reminded everyone that he may be the solution to the India cricket team’s apparent major problem.
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