Sanju Samson poised for Virender Sehwag-like impact in Tests if given opening role

New Delhi: Sanju Samson, widely regarded as one of India’s most promising talents, appears to be establishing himself on the international stage. After a series of fluctuating performances and intermittent team selections, Samson has now made a compelling case for a permanent spot in India’s T20I lineup. His recent achievements include a stunning century in the first T20I against South Africa, making him the first Indian to score consecutive hundreds in T20Is, following another brilliant century in the previous match against Bangladesh.

Like many cricketers, Sanju Samson dreams of representing India in Test cricket. Though the path to the Test squad is challenging, opportunities may soon arise as veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli near the latter stages of their careers. Samson’s childhood coach, Biju George, currently the fielding coach for the Delhi Capitals, believes Samson has the potential to shine in the Test arena. George expressed his desire for Samson to open for Kerala in red-ball cricket, confident that once he finds his rhythm, he’ll be unstoppable. Comparing Samson to Virender Sehwag, he noted that, while players like Samson may not score heavily in every innings, they have the power to change the course of a match with their game-winning abilities.

“I want Sanju to open for Kerala in red ball cricket. Once he gets his batting going in red-ball cricket, then nobody can stop him,” he told Rediff.com’s Harish Kotian.

“This is a second coming for Sanju. He made his debut nine years ago but didn’t get enough opportunities but now with the proper backing and clarity of role he seems to be showing his true potential as a world class batter. I am absolutely happy. He had a tough time coming through. Once he came through, he is proving himself on the big stage. People should realise he is an impact player, like Virender Sehwag. You don’t expect these players to score a 70-80 every time they bat, but whenever they score they will win matches for your team,” said George