Samson credits surprise opening role for career revival

India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has credited an unexpected opportunity at the top of the order for reviving his international career, describing the move to open the innings as a turning point that reshaped his role in India’s T20I setup.

Samson, who was part of India’s squad for their historic T20 World Cup 2024 triumph but did not get a game, admitted it was a challenging phase personally, even as he remained thankful for being included in the 15-member group.

Advertisement

“Talking about the T20 World Cup 2024, I didn’t play a game. Things were up and down, to be very honest, and I was not matching the expectations I had set for myself. But I was grateful that I made it to the 15,” he said in a video released by the BCCI on Wednesday.

Despite the disappointment, Samson said the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket meant opportunities could arise at any moment. “My journey is very special. You never know when you will get the opportunity to play. In this format, ups and downs keep happening,” he noted.

That opportunity came in the form of an opening slot, something Samson said he had not anticipated. “With God’s grace, it happened out of nowhere. I came into the World Cup side as a middle-order batter, but an opening slot opened up. I got the opportunity to bat in around 10 or 11 innings, and I did something special, which brought me into the Indian opening role,” he said.

Samson acknowledged that dealing with pressure and outside noise was part of the process while waiting for his chance.

“It’s hard to ignore outside noise when you’re playing for India. I created my own bubble and kept focusing on the little things. I knew my time would come,” he added.

Rather than dwelling on the stop-start nature of his international appearances, Samson said he drew motivation from it. “People say I didn’t get a long run, but I see that as a positive sign. After 10 years of international cricket, I still feel very special wearing this jersey. That feeling keeps me going,” he said.

The Kerala batter also felt that opening the innings suited his natural game in the shortest format. “This format demands fearlessness and not thinking too much about mistakes. Luckily, that comes naturally to me,” he observed.

Samson highlighted the importance of communication with T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav in settling into the role. “I have a great connection with Surya. We exchange a lot of ideas and ask questions. Having that rapport with the captain is very important in this format,” the 31-year-old said.