Sanju Samson, the promising Indian cricketer, is finding himself in troubled waters as his struggle in ODI cricket persists. In the 2nd ODI against South Africa, Sanju Samson walked to the crease with India in a bit of bother at 114-3. He opened his account with a delightful four with a cut behind square on the off side.
However, Sanju Samson’s innings was cut short on 12 runs with an unfortunate inside edge off the left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks which sent him back to the pavilion. Sanju Samson needs to make the most of the opportunities as there is cut throat competition for spots in Indian cricket team
Struggle at the International Stage
Samson made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2021, marking the beginning of what appeared to be a promising career in the 50-over format. With 13 innings under his belt until now, he has amassed a total of 402 runs at an impressive average of 50.25. However, a closer look at his recent scores reveals a tale of inconsistency and missed opportunities.
The string of scores raises questions about his ability to convert starts into substantial contributions for the team. The sequence of 46, 12, 54, 6*, 43*, 15, 86*, 30*, 2*, 36, 9, 51, 12 paints a picture of unpredictability. People might argue that Samson is not getting enough chances but I think he has not played any innings in the blue jersey that can get him those opportunities. He is batting in a crucial position and wasting the limited chances he is getting is not doing any good to him.
While in the T20 format, he just scored 374 runs in 21 innings at 19.68. He has not played any innings for India that could make his presence felt. He crossed 50 just four times in 34 international innings he played across formats. And the way he is getting dismissed is not something he would be proud of.
Not only at the international stage but Sanju has been struggling with consistency for many years. He starts an IPL season with a bang playing some breathtaking innings and then out of nowhere his form dips and he ends the season with a series of low scores.
A Critical Juncture for Sanju Samson
Former Cricketer Aakash Chopra recently stated that Indian cricket picks Sanju Samson in a format which is not very important that year. And looking at his recent selections for India one would notice it.
Now at 29, Samson is at a crucial point in his career. We cannot rule him out completely but he can still make amendments in his shot-making and try to perform consistently. Even Suryakumar Yadav we all are praising now, made his debut when he was 31 but he proved his mettle by putting in some solid performances for the team.
Will he emerge stronger from this slump, showcasing resilience and determination, or will the struggle persist, raising doubts about his long-term viability in the ODI format? Only time will tell, and fans will be eagerly watching every innings, hoping for a resurgence from the talented cricketer.
Also Read: IND vs SA: South Africa Dominates The 2nd ODI Against India