Gautam Gambhir 'Opens' More Chances For Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson played two T20Is for India against Sri Lanka in July 2024 but failed to open his account in both matches. After a flop show in Gautam Gambhir’s first series as India’s head coach, there were high chances that Samson would lose his place in the side, but he not only managed to retain his place but is also a confirmed starter for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side in the series opener against Bangladesh. India will face Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, the first game of which is scheduled to take place at the newly constructed New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior on Sunday (October 6).

In the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill (both rested), Samson will open the innings for India alongside Abhishek Sharma, who is back in the T20I team after being ignored for the last series against Sri Lanka.

Samson, who has played 30 T20Is for India since making his debut in 2015, has opened five times in T20Is, and his career-best score of 77 also came while opening the innings only. He has 105 runs to his name in five innings as an opener. And in the upcoming series against Bangladesh, he will have one final place to book a place on a permanent basis in India’s T20I team.

Sanju Samson’s performance in T20Is for India

Samson was part of the Rohit Sharma-led side that won the T20 World Cup 2024 title earlier this year, but he didn’t get a chance to play in any of the eight matches. Samson is preferred over the likes of Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel for the T20I series against Bangladesh, and it will be a make-or-break series for him.

The 29-year-old right-handed batter from Kerala is an attacking batter, and with matches set to take place in Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad, which offer good conditions for batting, it is a golden opportunity for Samson to score big runs and justify his selection.

With Rishabh Pant being India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter across formats, Samson faces direct competition from the likes of KL Rahul, Jurel, Ishan, and Jitesh Sharma for the second keeper’s slot, and another flop show will almost end his chances of playing for India in the Champions Trophy next year.