Sanju Samson has repaid the faith that Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav have shown in him with an impactful 39-run knock in the India vs Sri Lanka match. Finally, he came out to bat at number five, a position that was assigned to him, and showed just what he can do in the middle order.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had assured that it would be Samson’s batting position. But this wasn’t followed by the Indian management for some odd reason against Bangladesh, where the wicketkeeper was slotted at number eight and didn’t get a chance to bat.
Against Sri Lanka, they stuck to their original words. With 11.2 overs still left, Samson had enough time to analyse the conditions, take a couple of balls to settle down, and then explode. But this wasn’t going to be easy.
Samson conquers Hasaranga demons
Samson had come to bat when Wanindu Hasaranga had three overs still to bowl. The wicketkeeper had gone against 9 times in T20Is and the Indian Premier League (IPL) and averaged 7.33. He was dismissed 6 times. Of the 44 deliveries he faced, 28 were dot balls. In T20Is, Samson averaged just 0.67 against Hasaranga.
This was going to be the toughest of tests, with his position in the team on the line. But the 30-year-old had come out with a point to prove. Whatever Hasaranga had achieved before was irrelevant. He faced 11 deliveries from the leg spinner and scored 24 runs, which included one four and two sixes.
Smart play in middle overs
Ideally, it should have been the time when Samson got tight. But it was the complete opposite. In the two games he’d batted, the batter looked out of sorts. Against Sri Lanka, he played as freely as he did last year against Bangladesh and South Africa. The pitch wasn’t batting-friendly. So, Samson changed his game.
He relied heavily on running quick singles and doubles. Strike rotation was how Samson and Tilak Varma operated during the middle overs. Once he got a bad ball, he deposited it over the boundary. Of his first 20 balls, Samson played just two dots, ensuring bowlers aren’t able to tie him down.
Gets into form before India vs Pakistan final
With just 5 overs left, Samson let loose. He deposited Dasun Shanaka over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum, but the all-rounder got the better of him two balls later. Given his form, a 39 off 23 was what he and Team India needed. Samson played an impact to get into form before the India vs Pakistan final and recorded his highest score at number five, a position where 30* was his highest score before.
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