Sanju Samson Should Have Played More Matches For India, Says Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar feels Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson deserved a long rope for the Indian national team in the shortest format.

Ahead of the Sri Lanka T20I series, Samson played 10 T20I matches for India and amassed just 117 runs at an abysmal average of 11.7 since his debut in 2015 in Zimbabwe. Samson has been consistent with his batting performance with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL having accumulated 3153 runs from 123 IPL matches at a strike rate of 135.09.

Sanju Samson is one of the finest players: Shoaib Akhtar

Samson didn’t bat in the first T20I match against Sri Lanka but added 39 & 18 in the remaining two games. In the second T20I match, Samson scored 39 off 25 balls and slammed three sixes to Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara in the 13th over after a sloppy start to his innings.

Akhtar, who played 15 T20I matches for Pakistan, said Samson should get more opportunities for the Indian team and said it’s unfortunate for him not to be a regular member of India’s white-ball cricket plans.

“Sanju Samson should have played more matches for India. I think he is one of the finest players. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to seal his place in the Indian team. But he is a great talent,” Akhtar told Sportskeeda. 

Sanju Samson is the second most run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals in IPL

Samson was retained in the IPL 2022 retention players’ list along with England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler and Indian youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal. Samson took over the captaincy reins from Steve Smith after the latter was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2021.

Samson didn’t have a great start to his captaincy in IPL as RR finished seventh on the points table with five wins in 14 league stage matches.

In the first match of IPL 2022, Samson smashed 55 in 27 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), his innings was laced with three fours and five sixes. Samson is the second-most run-scorer of Rajasthan Royals with 2583 runs in 95 innings behind former skipper Ajinkya Rahane (3098).

Also Read: MI vs RR: “Have To Trust Your Death Bowlers And That’s What I Did “: Sanju Samson After Win Over Mumbai Indians