On the face of it, Sanju Samson is one of the most gifted batters of his generation. He is blessed with power and timing in equal measure. However, for all his talent, Samson failed to make the international stage his own during the limited opportunities he was provided.
Inconsistency and missed opportunities have been the hallmarks of Samson’s stint at the international level so far. However, the opportunities provided to Samson have been few and far between. The only time when Samson got a consistent run of games was during the IPL, where he captains the Rajasthan Royals.
Even at the Rajasthan Royals, Samson was notorious for starting the season in good form and tailing off towards the end, when it mattered the most. However, the 29-year-old finally seems to have bucked that trend this season as he has displayed a maturity that comes only with age. The hallmark of Samson’s knocks this season is that he has allowed himself the opportunity to play himself in during the initial stages of the innings.
This simple change in approach has added a whole new dimension to Samson’s batting and made him a far more dangerous batter. Rather than going all guns blazing from the outset, he has shown the patience to assess the conditions, gauge the situation, and then unleash his strokes with precision and timing.
What sets Samson apart this season is not just his ability to hit boundaries but his astute understanding of game situations. He no longer seems content with flashy cameos; instead, he has embraced the responsibility of anchoring the innings and guiding his team to victory. His innings against top-quality bowling attacks have been a testament to his adaptability and maturity as a cricketer.
Furthermore, Samson’s captaincy stint at the Rajasthan Royals seems to have played a pivotal role in his development as a player. Leading a franchise in the world’s most prestigious T20 league comes with its fair share of challenges, but Samson has embraced the responsibility with aplomb. His astute leadership on the field, coupled with his performances with the bat, has earned him respect and admiration from teammates and opponents alike.
As Samson continues to mature and refine his game, the sky is the limit for this immensely talented cricketer. With age on his side and a newfound sense of maturity, he has all the ingredients to establish himself as a mainstay in the Indian team across all formats. It’s time for Sanju Samson to shed the tag of unfulfilled potential and cement his place as one of the premier batters of his generation on the international stage.
