KOCHI: Thanks to his bold moves in the Indian Premier League, it is now known Sanju Samson He can attack the opponent’s best attacks from the start. However, on Thursday against South Africa in Paarl, the 29-year-old took 110 balls to flex his muscles after hitting a crucial hundred that helped India clinch the ODI series against the Proteas 2-1.
Great timing of the ball, Samson He looked a natural in T20 when he burst onto the scene nearly a decade ago. However, he has found difficulty in the shorter format despite making his India debut in Harare nearly eight years ago. Samson looks more at home in ODIs, having only featured in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. In 16 ODIs, Samson has an average of 56.66 and a strike rate close to a hundred, with three fifties, along with the century he scored on Thursday.
The Rajasthan Royals skipper prefers to bat at number three or four for his franchise and bats in the same position with Kerala in domestic cricket. For India, though, the innings in Paarl was only the third occasion on which he got a chance to bat at number three. After the strike in Parel, the Thiruvananthapuram lad hinted that he would prefer to carry out the order. “This format gives you some extra time to understand the wicket and the mentality of the player. Batting at the top of the order gives you 10-20 extra deliveries,” Samson said.
With ODI stalwart Virat Kohli Occupying slot number 3f Shreyas Iyer Being favored at number four, the team management tried to give Sanju the role of the final bowler in the year leading up to the ODI World Cup. They had him batting in the fifth and sixth when the majors were injured or rested.
Sampson wasn’t bad, but when the big tournament came, the selectors went for it Suryakumar Yadav instead of.
Even KL Rahul, India’s captain in the ODI series, admitted that Samson did not receive enough chances at the top of the order.
Samson did not get a chance to bat in the first ODI. He chipped the ball into the stumps when he was in the 12th over in the second ODI in Jabbarha. So when he walked out to bat on Thursday, he knew his career was on the line. He was pushed into a corner, handed over.
“The last three or four months have been tough for me mentally. So, after going through all that and coming here to do what I did today, I feel really happy and grateful.”
“I have been blessed with my genes. My father is also an athlete, so whatever setbacks you have, I believe there is always no other way but to recover. Just think how much you can work on yourself and how much you can come back harder,” he added.
Bijumon N, with whom Samson has worked closely recently, said he has adopted a more subtle approach to hitting Samson. “Although I cannot reveal more details, Sanju has tried to change his batting style. I am happy that he has started showing results and the century exemplifies that. He is also working hard to improve his fitness,” Begomon said.
Sango couldn’t have timed his ton better. Not only did it probably save his fledgling career, but it also came as the perfect gift a day before his fifth wedding anniversary.
