"Sanju Samson has done really well in last 7-10 games," Suryakumar Yadav says wicketkeeper's position in T20I team is sealed

Sanju Samson was India’s leading T20I run-scorer in 2024.

With the Indian T20I team being in a transition period, following the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, one player who has apparently sealed his spot in the XI is Sanju Samson.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav attested Samson’s place in the side as the first-choice wicketkeeper ahead of the five-match T20I series against England at home, starting on January 22.

Samson has done this through the sheer weight of runs last year. He was India’s leading run-scorer in T20Is in 2024, with 436 runs in 12 innings at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 180.

However, it was in the last couple of series that Samson flourished immensely. He slammed three centuries in his last five knocks against Bangladesh and South Africa. Only Rohit (5) and Suryakumar (4) have hit more T20I centuries for India than Samson’s three, a feat he achieved within a space of only five outings.

There’s no question mark on the wicketkeeper: Suryakumar Yadav

Rishabh Pant made his comeback to the Indian team in all three formats last year and was preferred over Samson in the T20 World Cup 2024.

But Pant’s numbers last year were ordinary – average of 27 and strike rate of 131 – and Samson’s sensational form in the second half of the year cemented his spot in the T20I team as the first-choice keeper.

Ahead of the first T20I against England in Kolkata, Suryakumar confirmed Sanju Samson’s position in the T20I side as India prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup.

“Currently, there’s no question mark on the wicketkeepers [spot]. Sanju has done really well in the last 7-10 games and has shown what he’s capable of. It’s what we want from all our players, not just the wicketkeepers but from everyone – to keep the team first. He’s got that opportunity, he’s made full use of it. And I’m happy for him,” the Indian T20I skipper said.

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