Former Indian player Saba Karim has showered praise on wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, claiming him the “perfect team man”. Samson scored a quickfire fifty in the third ODI against the West Indies in Trinidad on Tuesday. He smashed four sixes and two boundaries in his 51-run knock which came off just 41 deliveries during India’s sensational 200-run victory in the series decider as well.
Speaking on Jio Cinema, Karim said: “Sanju Samson is an enigma for me. He bats so well. He is a gifted player. Today, his innings was like a whiff of fresh air. He said that his intent was to go out and be aggressive. The way he handled the leg-spinner, who was looking quite good at that point in time, was so refreshing to watch. This is what Sanju Samson is capable of.”
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“Sanju Samson has not got a series of chances,” he continued. “He has got in only when your regular players have been rested. It’s not been an easy journey so far. But the fact remains that Sanju is still raring to go. You send him at No. 3, he is more than happy. You send him at No. 4, he scores a fifty. You send him down the order.. he is always there as a perfect team man. This is a just reward for Samson’s persistence to be in the reckoning in the ODI squad.”
However, Sanju Samson was dismissed by West Indies leg-spinner Yannic Cariah in the second ODI while batting at No. 3. He fearlessly targeted Cariah in the third game, hitting him for two sixes inside the first four deliveries as well.
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“At this stage, the Indian team management is little bit apprehensive about Shreyas Iyer’s fitness — whether he would regain full fitness and become match fit or not,” Saba Karim concluded. A”t this stage, they have 2 options, either you continue with Samson or try out Suryakumar. We are seeing a reversal of roles here, I think Samson the fact that he was sent in at No. 4 has done a creditable job for his side.”
