Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson expressed his feelings upon being named in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in the West Indies and the USA. Samson conveyed his emotions through a sincere message following India’s squad announcement for the ICC tournament.
Samson is pleased to be part of India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, particularly after being overlooked in previous major tournaments. His outstanding performance as captain and batsman in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season played a pivotal role in earning him this opportunity.
The Kerala cricketer encountered tough competition from rivals such as KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, and Jitesh Sharma. He suffered a golden duck dismissal against Afghanistan in his most recent T20I appearance earlier this year. However, his steady showings in the IPL 2024 compelled his inclusion.
The 29-year-old batsman has accumulated 385 runs in nine innings with an outstanding average of 77.00 and an impressive strike rate of 161. Samson has registered four half-centuries this season, achieving a top score of 82*. The right-handed batsman ranks as the seventh-highest run-scorer in the current tournament.
A shirt made of sweat and hard work- Sanju Samson
After the squad announcement, Sanju Samson posted on Instagram in Malayalam, stating “Viyarpu Thuniyitta Kuppayam,” which translates to “Shirt stitched with sweat and hard work.”
Sanju Samson debuted in T20I cricket for India in 2015 versus Zimbabwe. However, he faced limited chances due to competition and inconsistency in his batting performances. Across 25 T20I matches, he has accumulated 374 runs at an average of 18.70 and a strike rate of 133.09.
India’s T20 World Cup Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mohammed Siraj.
In Group A, India is grouped with rivals Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada, along with co-hosts the USA. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team will commence their campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The much-anticipated match against Pakistan is scheduled for June 9.
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