Sanju Samson is a fascinating figure in Indian cricket. The talented batter has made headlines for his breathtaking performances and, more often than not, for the wrong reasons—on and off the field.
The past month has been a whirlwind of highs and lows. Samson began with back-to-back centuries in T20 matches against Bangladesh at home, followed by another stellar century in the opening game of a four-match series against South Africa in Durban. However, two consecutive ducks in the subsequent games quickly tempered the euphoria around his performances.
Adding to the drama, Samson’s father, Vishwanath, publicly criticiSed cricketing icons Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, current captain Rohit Sharma, and former coach Rahul Dravid for not giving his son enough chances. “There are 3-4 people who wasted 10 years of my son’s vital career,” he told an Indian media outlet. “The more they hurt him, the stronger Sanju came out of the crisis.”
A glimpse of greatness
I witnessed Samson’s brilliance during the 2014 ICC Under-19 World Cup fifth-place match against the West Indies at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. His talent was evident, and the power behind his strokes hinted at a bright future. It seemed the Kerala batter was destined for greatness.
But the journey hasn’t been smooth. As a wicketkeeper-batter, Samson has had to bide his time, waiting for opportunities in a cricketing landscape where competition is fierce. In India, with its vast pool of talent, chances are rare and fleeting, making it imperative to seize every moment.
Talent meets tough competition
Indian cricket is filled with stories of gifted players overshadowed by established stars. For instance, left-arm spinner Padmakar Shivalkar had his career eclipsed by Bishan Singh Bedi, and leg-spinner V.V. Kumar missed out due to the presence of B.S. Chandrasekhar.
Today, opportunities have expanded with the advent of the IPL and the proliferation of T20 cricket, offering players more avenues to showcase their skills. Even so, with three Indian squads simultaneously playing in Australia and South Africa, representing a pool of 50-plus players, the competition remains cutthroat.
As Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma inch toward the twilight of their careers, a few slots are opening up. A strong showing in South Africa could have strengthened Samson’s case for a permanent place in India’s all-format squad.
A crowded field of competitors
Samson, who celebrated his birthday in South Africa on Monday, faces stiff competition from other wicketkeeper-batters like Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan.
While Samson has the ability to secure a spot purely as a batter, his biggest challenge remains consistency. In 14 ODI innings, he has scored 510 runs with a top score of 108. In T20Is, he has 701 runs in 32 innings, including two centuries and two fifties.
Adapting to the changing game
The dynamics of T20 cricket have shifted, with teams prioritising wicket preservation over aggressive scoring-rate during the powerplay. Samson, primarily an opener in white-ball formats, needs to balance an aggressive strike rate with the discipline to protect his wicket.
Rather than dwelling on missed opportunities, Samson must focus on building a lasting legacy. This requires developing the mental toughness to weather the highs and lows of international cricket. His undeniable talent must translate into consistent performances to secure his place in the Indian lineup.
Samson’s skill set could make him invaluable on bouncy Australian pitches, where his ability to play both frontfoot and backfoot shots would be an asset. But first, he must deliver in today’s fourth and final T20 match against South Africa in Johannesburg—a golden opportunity to make his mark.
