India's performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 has been nothing short of spectacular, with victories in all five initial matches, making them the sole team to achieve this feat in this edition of the tournament.
The side, led by Rohit Sharma, are at the top of the points table. While the squad has seen commendable contributions from almost all their players, star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson's absence from the World Cup roster raised eyebrows. Now, the Kerala batter is making headlines with back-to-back half-centuries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
During the face-off between Kerala and Odisha in India's top domestic T20 tournament at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Samson showcased his batting prowess. Scoring a brisk 55 off 31 balls, the Kerala skipper hit four boundaries and as many sixes. Entering the crease at no.4 with the scoreboard reading 90-2 after 11.1 overs, he played a pivotal role in steering Kerala to a formidable 183/4 in their stipulated 20 overs. This marked his second successive fifty in the SMAT 2023.
In a subsequent match against Chandigarh on October 21, Samson was the standout performer for Kerala, crafting a quickfire 52 off just 32 deliveries, adorned with 4 fours and 3 sixes. His innings played a crucial role as Kerala set a target of 193, eventually winning by a narrow seven-run margin. However, in the following match against Sikkim, Samson didn't get a chance to bat.
Samson's last appearance for India was during the T20I series against Ireland in August. A series of inconsistent performances during the tours of West Indies and Ireland led to his omission from the Asia Cup 2023 as well as the Asian Games 2023 squad, the series against Australia and eventually the World Cup squad. But with the 2024 T20 World Cup approaching, his current form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023 might be the silver lining he needed.
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