Sanjay Manjrekar praised Sanju Samson for his improved consistency, maturity, and long innings in T20Is, calling him a late bloomer and a key asset for India.
Sanju Samson’s recent T20I performances have drawn significant praise from former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. Ahead of India’s white-ball series against England starting January 22, Manjrekar noted Samson’s improved consistency and aggressive batting. India will play five T20Is followed by three ODIs, marking their final series before the Champions Trophy 2025.
Samson, promoted as an opener, has excelled with three centuries in his last five T20Is. Once criticized for his lack of big scores, Samson has silenced critics by combining his natural attacking style with consistency. Manjrekar believes Samson has matured as a player and could be a vital asset for India in upcoming tournaments.
“Self-confidence, slight maturity, and he is valuing his wicket a little more. He is playing long innings and not just one but repeatedly. Some people blossom a little late and Sanju Samson is like that. I am a big fan of him now. It seemed earlier that he was batting well but where were the runs? Now the batting is anyway mighty, even the runs are there,” Manjrekar told Star Sports.
Sanju Samson’s Power-Hitting Draws Comparison to Yuvraj Singh
Samson’s recent form has been remarkable, scoring three centuries in his last five T20I innings for India. In the same discussion, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar compared Sanju Samson‘s power-hitting abilities to Yuvraj Singh, noting the batter’s consistent performances.
“Glad to see the kind of success that he’s been blessed with currently. He’s been there for a long time. It’s just that he’s got the right opportunities and a good run of opportunities because every batter, if he’s playing three or four matches in a row, that frees him a little bit. Batting up the order, he doesn’t really have to worry about the situation. The field is up and he is a six-hitter. He can hit sixes with ease. After Yuvraj Singh, if there’s one batter who can do it with such ease on a consistent basis, it has to be Sanju Samson. So, just to see him firing on all cylinders is a treat to watch,” Bangar said.
As India prepares for the upcoming white-ball series against England starting January 22, Samson is expected to play a role in India’s batting lineup.
Last Updated on January 11, 2025
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