NEW DELHI: Legendary spinner Anil Kumble expressed concerns about Sanju Samson’s consistency as Team India prepares for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, starting in Durban on Friday.
Kumble highlighted Samson’s sporadic performances, noting that while the wicketkeeper-batter shows flashes of brilliance, his ability to deliver consistently remains uncertain.
Samson’s T20I career began in 2015 with his first match against Zimbabwe. Over the course of 33 T20 appearances, he has accumulated 594 runs, maintaining a strike rate of 144.52, with his statistics featuring one century and two half-centuries.
During the third T20I against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, Samson showcased his batting prowess by crafting an impressive 111 runs from 47 deliveries, achieving a remarkable strike rate of 236.17.
In a discussion on JioCinema’s ‘Insiders’ Preview’ before the SA series, Kumble expressed that Samson’s recent century against Bangladesh would significantly enhance his self-assurance.
“There’s been a lot of talk about keeping Sanju Samson in the team long-term, and that century he scored will certainly have given him a lot of confidence. We know the ability of Sanju Samson; he is a class act,” Kumble was quoted as saying in a release from Jio Cinema.
The former Indian captain expressed his view that Samson would prove to be a valuable asset to the squad if given opportunities to bat in the top order.
“Consistency is a bit lacking, and I’m sure the Indian selectors are mindful of that. Placing him at the top of the innings, either at number one, two, or three, is where I believe he can truly add value to this team. He has strong backfoot play, plenty of time against fast bowlers, and can be devastating against spinners. It will be interesting to see how he handles those four matches in South Africa under those conditions,” he added.
India and South Africa are set to clash in a four-match T20I series, with the opening encounter taking place at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium, Durban on November 8.
The action then moves to Port Elizabeth’s St George’s Park for the second T20I on November 10, followed by the third match at SuperSport Park, Centurion on November 13. The series will reach its conclusion at the Wanderers Stadium on November 15.