Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson secured a tough competition to earn a spot in Team India’s 2024 T20 World Cup lineup, surpassing contenders such as KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, and Jitesh Sharma. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain showcased an outstanding performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, earning recognition for his contributions.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled a 15-member team for the competition set to take place in June in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Jay Shaha convened in a meeting in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, April 30, and the squad was promptly announced thereafter. Samson was notably absent from the squad last year, with Jitesh Sharma performing well for the national team before the IPL.
Samson endured a challenging away series against the West Indies and failed to leave a mark during the Ireland tour. His most recent T20I appearance was against Afghanistan earlier in the year, where he was dismissed for a golden duck.
Throughout the current IPL season, Sanju Samson has been exceptional for RR, providing stability to the innings alongside Riyan Parag during periods when the openers struggled. With 385 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 161, including an unbeaten 71 off 33 balls in his latest innings against the Lucknow Super Giants, the selectors are now fully persuaded.
Fans expressed their joy at the idea of Samson finally receiving recognition, especially following his challenging tenure with the national team previously.
Here are a few reactions from Twitter:
Sanju Samson rn:#IndianCricketTeam #T20WorldCup24 pic.twitter.com/aH3X2POLqG
— Unown (@Unown_1920) April 30, 2024
Sanju Samson ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CcSSk1CHpC
— Naviyo 🌻 (@HIVEROYALS) April 30, 2024
Sanju Samson in the squad, we done it pic.twitter.com/aMb2Ix5izz
— J🏏 (@Slumdog08_) April 30, 2024
Manifested this. Sanju Samson to the T20 World Cup! 🇮🇳❤️ pic.twitter.com/C2Vm28BsxY
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 30, 2024
Proud of you Sanju Samson 🩷
From debuting in 2015 to not playing till 2020. From watching every junior play ahead of him and being motivated.
He overcame all of that scored overseas hundred in SA. Captained RR well and now broke the doors down to open WC dream. pic.twitter.com/2HLEz7z36f
— Anurag™ (@Samsoncentral) April 30, 2024
Happy to see Sanju Samson in the T20 World Cup squad. Well deserved. pic.twitter.com/ZTOvzLhiCj
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) April 30, 2024
Me and my friends reaction after Sanju Samson been selected in the World Cup pic.twitter.com/UIqHWRphET
— Chinmay Shah (@chinmayshah28) April 30, 2024
It’s been almost 10 years since Sanju got his first call to the IndianTeam & this is the 1st time he will be representing India in WorldCup🇮🇳🥹
We waited for this moment for long, we deserve it 🙌
No one can relate this scene more than SANJU SAMSON nowpic.twitter.com/UMI8jX3NWs
— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) April 30, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Sanju Samson is going to the US for the T20 World Cup.🩷 pic.twitter.com/8YmEzoOsYp
— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) April 30, 2024
The Indian team is placed in Group A of the 2024 T20 World Cup along with Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. The players not involved in the IPL 2024 playoffs will depart first for the tournament, with the remaining contingent joining after the IPL concludes on May 26th.
Team India Squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup:
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
Reserves – Shubman Gill, Khaleel Ahmed, Rinku Singh, and Avesh Khan.
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