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It won't be a hyperbole to say that India's star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson's journey to India fold has been a complete roller-coaster ride. Nothing came easy for the Kerala-born cricketer. The flamboyant India batter, who has proved his mettle time and again but marred by the fortune, missed the T20 World Cup ticket.
Snubbed from India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Samson led India A to a sweeping series victory against New Zealand A in the just-concluded three-match unofficial ODI series.
With this he has again landed himself in the scheme of things for Team India going by the hint that Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly just dropped.
India are playing a three-match T20I series against South Africa which will be followed by as many ODIs.
Various media outlets, citing different sources, have reported that India's T20 World Cup-bound team will travel to Australia immediately following the conclusion of T20I matches against the Proteas, and thus no player participating in the ongoing T20I series can play in ODIs.
But right ahead of the ODI series between India an South Africa, which is slated to be played from October 6, Ganguly gave a huge update on Samson's return to India fold.
Speaking ahead of the first India vs South Africa T20I, in a meeting with the reporters, Ganguly said, "He (Samson) is playing well. He is there, and he played for India. He just missed the World Cup. I’m sure he will be in the thick of things. I think he is playing the One-Days against South Africa also. He is around. He does well for his franchise in the IPL (Rajasthan Royals). He is the captain. He has done very well for himself."
Ganguly also added that Samson is from Trivandrum, and there’s a lot of talent in Kerala. It would be great to have the local boy playing against the Proteas.
"I believe he is from Trivandrum. You [Trivandrum] have a lot of good players. Rohan Kunnummal got three centuries during the last Ranji Trophy. There’s a lot of talent in this part. Basil Thampi is also from here. So, a lot of talent in Kerala. It is no more a football-only state," added Ganguly.
Meanwhile talking about the first T20I, India defeated South Africa by eight wickets, in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Unbeaten half-centuries by KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav helped India win the game after restricting the visitors to 106/8 in 20 overs. Meanwhile, India reached 110/2 in 16.4 overs.
