T20 World Cup 2024: Sanju Samson issues an official statement after being picked in the Indian squad

Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson shared his reaction after his inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the USA. Sanju Samson posted a heartfelt message following India's squad selection for the ICC tournament.

Sanju Samson is relieved by his inclusion in India's 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup, especially after being overlooked in previous major tournaments. The RR skipper's exceptional performance as captain and batter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season earned him this opportunity.

The Kerala cricketer faced tough competition from contenders like KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, and Jitesh Sharma. He was dismissed for a golden duck against Afghanistan in his last T20I appearance earlier this year. However, his consistent performances in the IPL 2024 forced his selection.

The 29-year-old batter has amassed 385 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 77.00 and a remarkable strike rate of 161. Samson has hit four half-centuries this season, with a best score of 82*. The right-handed batter is the seventh-highest run-getter in the ongoing tournament.

Shirt Stitched Of Sweat And Hard Work - Sanju Samson

Following the announcement of the squad, Sanju Samson shared a post on Instagram in Malayalam, "Viyarpu Thuniyitta Kuppayam", which translates to "Shirt stitched of sweat and hard work."

View this post on Instagram

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Sanju Samson made his debut for India in T20I cricket in 2015 against Zimbabwe. However, the batter didn't get enough opportunities due to competition and his inconsistency with the bat. He has played 25 T20I matches and scored 374 runs at an average of 18.70 and a strike rate of 133.09.

We Are Witnessing A Transformed Sanju - Samson Viswanath

"Previously, he attempted to hit every ball for maximum impact... However, this season, we are witnessing a transformed Sanju. I look forward to seeing him contribute runs for the country," his father told a news agency.

India's T20 World Cup Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mohammed Siraj.

India is placed in Group A alongside rivals Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada, and co-hosts the USA. The Rohit Sharma-led team will kick off their campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. India will take on Pakistan in a highly anticipated clash on June 9.

India schedule for the T20 World Cup 2024

Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: Sanjay Manjrekar issues an official statement after being trolled heavily for his predicted India squad