Navjot Singh Sidhu backed Sanju Samson as the most suitable pick for India’s T20 World Cup Squad as a wicketkeeper batter.
The race for India’s wicketkeeper slot in the upcoming T20 World Cup is wide open, with several players eyeing the position. Former Indian all-rounder Navjot Singh Sidhu has weighed in on the debate, expressing his strong preference for Sanju Samson.
Sidhu believes Samson’s recent form makes him the standout candidate. “No. 1 is Sanju Samson, on form. This is a different Samson. If India finds themselves in situations where they need a spare opener, a No. 4 batter, or a No. 6, they have KL Rahul, who is also in form. But I will still prefer Samson, followed by Rishabh Pant. He is coming out of an injury. Now, do you consider him a white-ball specialist? His form is a bit patchy and scratchy, but he has survived the test so far. My preferences are these three,” Sidhu said on StarSports, as quoted by NDTV.
Samson’s impressive performance against the Lucknow Super Giants, where he scored a blazing 71 runs off just 33 balls and won the Player of the Match award, further strengthens Sidhu’s point. Interestingly, Samson himself believes his role behind the stumps as a wicketkeeper contributes to his batting form.
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“Being behind the wickets helps me a lot. The new ball had some swing, but then the wicket became good for batting. The bowlers who bowl an over during the powerplay play a crucial role. There’s a lot of planning happening behind the scenes. We had a good start and finish, but gave away a few runs in the middle overs. In this format, form is temporary,” Sanju said in the post-match presentation.
While anticipation builds for India’s T20 World Cup squad, the roster will be out on May 1st. While the tournament kicks off on June 1st, India will be starting off their campaign by facing Ireland on June 5th.
Last Updated on April 28, 2024
