As the IPL will conclude next month, attention will indeed shift towards the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in West Indies and the USA in May and June. The BCCI faces the task of finalising and announcing a 15-member squad for the tournament in the coming days. Ahead of this crucial decision, ESPNCricinfo has reported that Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), is emerging as India’s likely first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the ICC T20 World Cup this year.
This development adds an intriguing element to India’s team selection process, particularly given Samson’s recent performances, particularly in the IPL. It will be interesting to see how the BCCI evaluates various players and balances the squad to optimise India’s chances in the tournament.
Rishabh Pant, back in action this IPL after a 2022 car accident, joins Lucknow Super Giants’ skipper KL Rahul and Mumbai Indians’ star Ishan Kishan in contention for the primary wicketkeeper-batter spot in the upcoming tournament.
A report from ESPNCricinfo mentioned that the IPL has shown that Rishabh Pant is fit again after his serious car accident in December 2022. However, it’s likely that Sanju Samson will be chosen as the main wicketkeeper for India. This is because India needs someone who can hit spin bowling well, especially since their top three batsmen often struggle against spin. The report also noted that Jitesh Sharma hasn’t been playing well lately, and KL Rahul has been batting at the top of the order, which is already crowded.
Sanju’s outstanding performance in IPL 2024
Samson has been shining brightly in the IPL 2024, currently holding the fourth position in the run charts. He has scored 385 runs at an impressive average of 77.00 and a striking rate of 161.08. Notably, he has scored four half-centuries, with his highest being an unbeaten 82.