Page 3 - Sanju Samson

T20 World Cup: Sanju Samson, the silent fighter who made his own fortune

Sanju Samson and his legion of faithful fans might have heaved a massive sigh of relief when he was named in India's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in USA and Caribbean. His moment came after delicate knocks on the door in the past became a loud thud during this IPL where Samson has so far scored 385 runs from nine matches at a strike-rate of 161.08. In comparison, KL Rahul, his closest rival for the second wicketkeeper-batter's slot behind Rishabh Pant, has made 378 runs from nine matches at 144.27. On the periphery, there is nothing much to distinguish between them apart from the strike-rate, which at times can paint a rather false picture. But in Samson's case those numbers are prima-facie evidence of his impact in the Rajasthan Royals' pink jersey. The loudest argument against Samson in the past was his tendency to produce plateauing outings as a tournament progress. The IPL 2023 was an example of that as after a couple of blazing fifties in the beginning, the 29-year-

IPL 2024 KKR vs RR Highlights: Buttler overpowers Narine's hundred, wins it for Rajasthan

Indian Premier League 2024 Kolkata KInight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Highlights: Jos Buttler scored 107* off 60 to take Royals to the joint highest successful run chase in history of IPL

IPL 2024 PBKS vs RR: Samson feels game cannot be taken for granted

Rajasthan Royals on Saturday surged ahead after their fifth win in six games this IPL but skipper Sanju Samson said he doesn't want to get ambitious as past experiences have taught him to never take things for granted. RR survived some tense moments before getting past a fighting Punjab Kings by three wickets to consolidate their position at the top of the points table. "You can never take it for granted. Last game, we did some really good things but ended up losing. Tonight, we made more mistakes and won. Cricket is a funny game, so you have to put your head down and just focus on the process, he said at the post-match presentation here. Despite chasing 148, Rajasthan made heavy weather of the target before crossing the line in the second last ball of the match, and Samson admitted they were tensed. "We all were (tensed). Games against Punjab in the last few overs, I don't know what it is, they are always close. It was a very funny game," he said. It was Shimron Hetmyer, who earn

IPL 2024 PBKS vs RR Highlights: Hetmyer the hero as Royals win thriller in Mullanpur

IPL 2024 LIVE TOSS UPDATES, PBKS vs RR Playing 11: Sandeep Sharma of Rajasthan and Liam Livingstone of Punjab are major playing 11 concerns as both can make a comeback after injury layoff

IPL 2024 RR vs GT highlights: Rashid Khan steals the win from Royals

IPL 2024 LIVE TOSS UPDATES, RR vs GT Playing 11: Rajasthan are the only team who have been undefeated so far in IPL 2024

IPL 2024 RR vs GT: 5 reasons why Rajasthan is only unbeaten team in league?

Indian Premier League 2024: Rajasthan Royals have made the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur their fortress, not losing even a single game out of the three that they have played

IPL 2024- 'Behave': Manjrekar asks Mumbai crowd to cheer for Hardik at toss

This statement from Manjrekar came in light of alleged booing that Pandya has received in the last two matches as captain of the MI team in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad

IPL 2024 RR vs DC Playing 11: Nortje replaces Hope, Mukesh Kumar Ishant

Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Playing 11: Anirch Nortje replaced Shai Hope while Mukesh Kumar came in for injured Ishant Sharma in the Capitals playing 11. Royals made no changes

IPL 2024 RR vs LSG Highlights: Sandeep, Samson lead Royals to big home win

IPL 2024 Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants Highlights: Sandeep Sharma bowled a brilliant spell of 1/22 at the death and Samson hit an unbeaten 85 off 52 balls to take Royals to a 20-run win

Last 3-4 months were mentally challenging: Sanju after hitting 1st ODI ton

India wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson revealed that the past three-four months have been mentally challenging for him but he kept at it by working on himself and bounced back by scoring his maiden ODI ton. Samson was overlooked for the ODI World Cup in India with selectors preferring to go with the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav despite the Kerala batter averaging 55.7 with a strike rate of 104 in 13 ODI innings. "The last three, four months were challenging for me mentally," Sanju said after the 78-run win on Thursday. "So going through all that and coming here I think doing what I did today, I think I feel really happy and grateful." Samson was also not picked for the Asian Games, indicating that he is really low in the selectors' pecking order. On Thursday, however, he took things in his own hand and scored his maiden ODI century to help India win the third game and clinch the series 2-1 against South Africa. "I've been blessed in my genes. My father is also a ..

Unfortunately haven't been able to give Sanju chance at No. 3: KL Rahul

India captain KL Rahul conceded that a "phenomenal" Sanju Samson was finding it difficult to find a place in the side as stalwarts in the team occupy key spots, adding that he was pleased the talented cricketer grabbed his chance in the series against the Proteas. Samson, elevated to No.3 spot, smashed his maiden ODI century in the third and final match against the Proteas on Thursday as India won by 78 runs to wrap up the series 2-1. "Pleased for Sanju, he's been a phenomenal performer in the IPL over the years. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to give him the chance at No. 3, because obviously there are stalwarts in the ODIs who occupy those key spots. "Glad he was able to grab his chances here," said Rahul following the big win. Samson's measured 108 (114 balls) and Tilak Varma's patient 52 (77 balls) guided India to a competitive 296 for eight. South Africa challenged the tourists through a fifty by Tony de Zorzi (81, 87 balls) but were eventually bowled out for 218 in 45.5

Asia Cup 2023 IND vs PAK: No guarantee Rahul could be fit later says Kaif

Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has cast doubts over KL Rahul's fitness for the entire Asia Cup

IRE vs IND 3rd T20 Playing 11, live match time, live streaming in India

Hard-hitting wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma is expected to replace Sanju Samson in India Playing 11. While Avesh Khan could replace Arshdeep Singh in India's XI.

IRE vs IND 2nd T20 Playing 11: No changes on either side as India bat first

India skipper Jasprit Bumrah and Ireland captain Paul Stirling made no changes to their sides from the first game and played with the same playing 11 in the second match at The Village in Dubin

Asia Cup 2023: BCCI reveals India squad; Tilak gets call-up, Chahal dropped

Tilak Varma found a place in the squad and Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are back in the team as well with Rahul still struggling with the niggle

Ireland T20Is: With Jitesh Sharma hot-on-heels, time running out for Samson

The national selection committee's patience with the profligate Sanju Samson could be soon running out as Jitesh Sharma's presence in the 15-member squad for Ireland T20s puts the Rajasthan Royals skipper's place in the side under scanner. The Indian squad for the series, save skipper Jasprit Bumrah, who is treating this event as a fitness test for the ODI World Cup, comprises Asian Games-bound players mostly and that in turn creates a slightly tricky situation. With scores of 12, 7 and 13 in the three games that he batted in the five-match T20 series against West Indies, Samson has himself invited trouble and one shouldn't be surprised if Jitesh dons the big gloves and plays as a designated finisher during the Ireland series beginning on Friday. The 29-year-old from Maharashtra is likely to be India's first-choice keeper ahead of Prabhsimran Singh in the upcoming Asian Games and before an important event, it is only fair that he gets to play a few international games to settle his

Shubman Gill to Tilak Varma: Five takeaways from India vs West Indies T20Is

It may be a series lost for India, but some valuable gains were made as Tilak Varma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mukesh Kumar showed potential for future reckoning

WI vs IND 4th T20 Playing 11: No changes in Team India, Windies make three

Hardik Pandya made no changes in the Indian playing 11. Rovman Powell made three changes in West Indies playing 11 with Holder, Odean Smith and Shai Hope coming in for Roston Chase, Joseph and Charles

WI vs IND 2nd T20 Playing 11: Bishnoi replaces Kuldeep Yadav in India's XI

The Men In Blue have made one forced change in their line-up, Bishnoi come in for Kuldeep Yadav in India's Playing 11. West Indies are unchanged from previous match

ODI World Cup 2023: Kaif bats for Samson's inclusion in India's squad

Former India international Mohammad Kaif believes that Sanju Samson is fully equipped to bat in the the middle-order and should be in the final 15 for the ODI World Cup at home in October-November. Samson smashed an impactful fifty under pressure in the series deciding third ODI against West Indies in Tarouba on Tuesday. Battling for a middle-order spot alongside Suryarkumar Yadav, Samson delivered in a must-win situation to make a strong case for himself. Shreyas Iyer and K L Rahul's absence from the team due to injuries have provided the opportunities to the likes of Samson and Suryakumar, who had a forgettable series in the Caribbean. India have often slowed down in the middle orders and Kaif feels Samson can address that issue. "I am massively impressed by Samson. He played an impactful knock, whether at four or five, he has done it in the past." Kaif didn't endorse sending Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel in the middle order. "Sending Kishan or Axar Patel in the middle-order is