The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has been included for the upcoming home T20I series against Bangladesh. Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir congratulated the youngster for his return to the national team.
On Thursday (24th October), the national selectors have picked up the Indian T20I and Test squads for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. The selectors have named Sanju Samson in the T20I squad after he impressed everyone with his recent performances in domestic cricket.
It is not the first time when Sanju Samson has earned the national team call-up. He has earned it for frequent times as a reserve wicketkeeper but he has hardly got a chance in the playing XI. In his international career, Samson has played only one T20I till the date.
On 19th July 2015, Samson made T20I debut against Zimbabwe at Harare. In that game, the right-handed batsman came to bat at no.7 position and scored 19 runs off 24 balls. Since then, he is still waiting to get another playing XI opportunity for the national team.
Sanju Samson recently scored a record-breaking List A double century
Most recently, in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019/20, Samson scored the fastest double-century in List A cricket history. The Kerala youngster scored 212 runs off just 129 balls against Goa in the Group Stage of that tournament. It is also the best List A knock by a wicketkeeper-batsman.
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019/20, Samson was the second most run-scorer for Kerala. The right-handed batsman scored 410 runs in eight innings with an average of 58.57.
When Samson smashed that record-breaking List A double century, Gautam Gambhir raised his voice for the youngster. Soon, Samson has finally earned the national team call-up.
Gambhir is very happy on Samson’s inclusion in the T20I squad. The former Indian left-handed top-order batsman congratulated the youngster. Gambhir is hopeful on Samson’s long success.
Gambhir tweeted, “This is well & truly through the gap by @IamSanjuSamson!!! Congratulations on being picked in the T20 squad. Soft hands, nimble feet and hopefully a sane head…go Sanju grab ur moment, long overdue. @BCCI”
India will play the three-match home bilateral T20I series from 3rd November to 10th November 2019.