On Saturday, the selection committee named the 18 players for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue will play a three-match T20I series starting on February 24. It was clear just after the second T20I concluded between India and West Indies that Virat Kohli and vice-captain Pant would be rested for the upcoming series. Hence, the BCCI has given chance to Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson as a second wicket-keeper in the team.
Samson will be the back-up wicket-keeper and can play at number three in the absence of former skipper Virat Kohli.
Samson, who is the captain of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, has performed exceptionally well for them. However, he played his last T20I match way back in July last year against Sri Lanka. When India sends its second-string team to play an ODI and T20I series.
The selection committee chairman, Chetan Sharma, pointed out after his selection that he is now fit to be drafted into the team. He also added that Sanju Samson is on the radar of the BCCI for the upcoming T20I World Cup in Australia this year.
Sanju Samson is in our Scheme of Things: Chetan Sharma
Sanju Samson was amongst the highest run-scorers in the last season of the IPL. He scored 484 runs at an average of 40.33 and an impressive strike rate of 138.72.
However, his team didn’t do well, but his performances caught the eyes of the selectors. Adding to that, Chetan Sharma said that Sanju is in the scheme of things. Because it is very important to see which players will be useful on Australian pitches.
He named him as that player and said that Samson is one such player who will be very good on such a bouncy track. He said, “He is definitely in our scheme of things (for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year).” And now it will be a chance for Sanju Samson to grab against Sri Lanka.