[Watch] Sanju Samson undergoes rigorous wicketkeeping drills from fielding coach ahead of IND vs SL 1st T20I
Sanju Samson underwent rigorous wicketkeeping drills from the fielding coach T Dilip on the eve of the T20I opener between India and Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday, July 27. Samson and Dilip were seen using the roller to practice for the game.
Samson recently served as the wicketkeeper during the T20I series in Zimbabwe earlier this month. It remains to be seen whether he will keep against Sri Lanka since Rishabh Pant is also in the squad. The latter was India’s first wicket-keeper at the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup.
Watch the video below:
Rishabh Pant has 48 dismissals in T20Is (74 games), including 10 stumpings, the second-most in the format for India after former skipper MS Dhoni (91 dismissals in 98 matches). On the other hand, Samson has 11 dismissals in 28 games, including four stumpings.
On the batting front, Sanju Samson has 444 runs in 24 T20I innings at a strike rate of 133.33 and an average of 21.14 with the help of two half-centuries. Meanwhile, Pant has amassed 1158 runs in 64 innings at a strike rate of 126.56 and an average of 22.71, including three half-centuries.
Pant scored 171 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 127.61 at the T20 World Cup. The left-hander, however, failed to deliver against Australia (15 in Super 8), England (four in the semifinal), and South Africa (duck in the final). Meanwhile, Samson returned with scores of 0, 12 not out, and 58 off 45 in his three outings in Zimbabwe.
“Grab those opportunities” – Robin Uthappa to Sanju Samson
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has urged Sanju Samson to make the most of the upcoming opportunities against Sri Lanka in T20Is following his axe from ODIs. He told Sony Sports Network (via first):
“From Sanju’s perspective, this is not the first time he has gone through it. I don’t think it will be the last time he will go through it as a player, but Sanju’s one-day numbers have been quite incredible. I think, again, with changes in leadership group or changes within the leadership group.
“So, I think Sanju is not out of contention as with any other player. I think. It’s a matter of time, and he will get his opportunity, but when the opportunities do come, he will have to grab those opportunities to make sure he steps up with solid performances that keep him in the running."
The three T20Is between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Pallekele on July 27, 28 and 30.