End of the road for Sanju Samson? Ex India chief selector's bombshell verdict ahead of Zimbabwe series

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter and national selector Saba Karim believes that the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe will be pivotal for Sanju Samson to secure his spot in the Indian cricket team for the long term.

Karim said that Samson has all the necessary skills to feature in all five T20I matches for Team India on the Zimbabwe tour, both as a wicketkeeper and a batter. Despite being part of India's 2024 ICC T20 World Cup-winning squad, the 29-year-old did not get a chance to play a single game in the tournament in the USA and West Indies.

Sanju Samson should get to play all five T20Is at No.3 in Zimbabwe: Saba Karim

Well, the former Indian selector suggested that the national selectors might consider playing Samson at number 3 in the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting on Saturday, July 6, in Harare.

Emphasizing the significance of the T20I series for Samson, the former BCCI official, and commentator believes that he should play all five matches in the Zimbabwe series at his ideal batting position of No. 3, where he has previously excelled.

Saba Karim said on Sony Sports: “I think it will throw up multiple options for the selectors going forward, and it will be good to see. These are exciting times for Indian cricket because now the transition will start with the Zimbabwe Series, and there are a number of newcomers who would want to cement their place in the side, even for the wicketkeeper slot. So, I know that they have, the selectors, tried out the number three.”

Furthermore, Karim pointed out that Samson has shown promise in the past, but consistent performance is key for him to cement his place in the Indian cricket team, which he has not been able to do so far.

He also predicted that there is a strong possibility that the national selectors might consider different batting positions for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper, but the Zimbabwe tour will be crucial in determining his future role.

Saba Karim predicts Sanju Samson will face big challenges in transition phase

With his abundant talent and experience, Samson faces significant challenges ahead, according to the former Indian cricketer. Karim also predicted that if the wicketkeeper performs well in the Zimbabwe series, he will receive more opportunities to prove himself in the Indian team.

Karim added, “He has done well in patches. He may get some more opportunities at number three. There is a strong possibility that they may want to bring him back down the order. So, there are a number of options available, but I think yes, if Sanju Samson gets to play five T20Is here, then at least going forward, if he does well, then he'll get many more opportunities at that number because he is rich in talent. He's got loads of experience now. He led the RR side quite well last season in the IPL, so there are some great challenges ahead for Samson.”

Notably, Sanju Samson, Yashashvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube departed for Harare on June 6 after celebrating their T20 World Cup 2024 victory in Delhi and Mumbai. However, due to delays in returning from Barbados caused by a hurricane alert, the BCCI has made three changes to the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series.

Batter Sai Sudharsan, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, and fast bowler Harshit Rana have been added to the Indian squad led by Shubman Gill as their replacements for the upcoming T20I series in Zimbabwe.