After twin ducks in Sri Lanka in two T20Is, Sanju Samson was staring at another long spell outside Team India. However, the Kerala man has got a lifeline with a classy century in the Duleep Trophy. As Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee set to announce the squad for IND vs BAN T20 series, Samson is likely to be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Rishabh Pant will be rested for the New Zealand Test series.
In a career that has had a lot of downs than ups, Sanju Samson has never been able to cement his place in any of the squads. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from T20Is, the No 3 slot opened up for Samson to grab. However, Samson failed to make any impression on new coach Gautam Gambhir with ducks in both matches in Sri Lanka.
Sanju Samson for IND vs BAN T20
But with scores of 106 and 45 in the Duleep Trophy last round, Samson surely got the attention. There will be competition though. Dhruv Jurel who is warming the bench in the IND vs BAN Test series could earn a recall while Ishan Kisan will also expect a comeback in Team India fold with a ton in the Duleep Trophy.
For now, though, Sanju Samson is ahead of the three because of the potential the selectors see in him.
“Look, I would like to see Sanju Samson get a little bit of a better run at number four. Now that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not there, I think he’s done extremely well in the small opportunities that he’s got. And I’d like to see him get more opportunities,” former India all-rounder Stuart Binny told InsideSport.
Race for India’s T20 wicketkeeper
| Player | Inns | Runs | Avg | 50/100 | HS | Dismissals |
| Sanju Samson | 11 | 148 | 16.44 | 1/0 | 58 | 14 |
| Ishan Kishan | 13 | 253 | 19.46 | 2/0 | 58 | 8 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0/0 | 6 | 2 |
| Rishabh Pant | 15 | 275 | 21.15 | 0/0 | 49 | 20 |
But has he proven his mettle in Indian colours? Not really. In 2024, Samson has got five innings in total in India colours in T20Is. However, he has fired blank in three of them. The solitary half-century came against a weaker Zimbabwe side.
While Rishabh Pant will always be the No 1 keeper-batter in all three formats, Samson has the opportunity to cement his place as the first back-up in T20Is at least. But he has to seize the opportunity as and when it comes.
If Sanju Samson does get the chance in the IND vs BAN T20 series, he will need to grab that with both hands ahead of the South Africa tour. If he fails again, Ishan Kishan will be hot on his tail and so will Dhurv Jurel.
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