India will look to seal the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in New Delhi on Wednesday. Even with key players such as Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah rested, India’s remarkable depth in white-ball cricket shone through in a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the opening game in Gwalior. One player who made a strong statement of intent in that game on Sunday was Sanju Samson.
Confirmed by skipper Suryakumar Yadav as an opener for the series, Samson has been in and out of the national setup since his debut in 2015 and his lack of consistency has been a major contributing factor. In the series-opener in Gwalior, the keeper-batter, who usually comes in the middle order, revelled in his new role as opener and played some delightful strokes in his 19-ball 29, showcasing his ability to play freely in the PowerPlay. READ | Mayank, Nitish credit captain Suryakumar’s calmness after positive debut performances However, he couldn’t convert his promising start, much like his opening partner Abhishek Sharma, who showcased sheer power before running himself out.
With first choice openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill rested for this series, both Samson and Sharma would be keen to prove they can go beyond mere cameos. The duo would look to seize this opportunity here and get a big score on Wednesday night in front of what is likely to be a sellout crowd. The stakes are higher for the 29-year-old Samson, who is aiming to solidify his position as wicketkeeper .