Gautam Gambhir emphasized Sanju Samson’s chance to make an impact on the international stage, urging him to secure victories for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Sanju Samson’s recent stellar form, highlighted by his maiden T20I century against South Africa in December 2023 and consistent performances throughout IPL 2024 for Rajasthan Royals, has earned him a spot in India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. This marks his debut in ICC events after a decade-long career.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes the T20 World Cup presents an important moment for Sanju Samson’s international career. Gambhir, who has seen Samson’s journey from their time together at Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, asserted that this tournament could either elevate Samson’s status or potentially end his prospects. He stressed the urgency for Samson to not just participate but to excel and win matches for India, leveraging his experience in international cricket and IPL success.
“Now that you’ve gotten picked in the World Cup team, you have that opportunity—the kind that you need to make sure you start winning games for India if you get the chance. You have that experience of playing international cricket. You are not a newbie that you will wait any longer,” Gambhir told SportsKeeda.
“You have tasted international cricket and you’ve done well in the IPL, and now you have the chance to play the World Cup. So, hopefully, Sanju shows the world what he is capable of at this stage. International cricket, that too in a stage like the World Cup, when you flourish, the whole world watches and takes note,” he added.
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Reflecting on Samson’s evolution since his early days in cricket, Gambhir recalled recognizing his talent even before he made his mark in the IPL scene back in 2012. The former cricketer also praised Samson’s multifaceted skills, highlighting his growth both mentally and in terms of abilities.
“Just the quality of a player. I don’t need to see much. Five minutes are enough to figure out what kind of a player he is. Mentally, you always grow, and skill-wise as well. The good thing is be it fitness, power-hitting, keeping or captaincy… he has not put a foot wrong. Through captaincy, you start accessing, judging better, reading better. I hope Samson’s captaincy reflects on his batting at the T20 World Cup if he gets a chance,” Gambhir concluded.
Last Updated on May 16, 2024
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