After Rajasthan Royals' impressive victory over Mumbai Indians on Monday evening, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh voiced his support for Sanju Samson, proposing him as a key contender for the Indian T20 squad for the upcoming 2024 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. The match, which took place at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 22, saw Rajasthan Royals defeat Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians by a convincing nine wickets.
In addition to his endorsement of Samson, Harbhajan Singh suggested that India should consider grooming Samson as the next T20 captain after Rohit Sharma. His comments came in the wake of a stellar performance by the Rajasthan Royals, particularly noting the significant contributions from young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal, emerging from a period of low scores, played an outstanding innings, scoring an unbeaten 104 off 60 balls, decorated with nine fours and seven sixes. His explosive batting was instrumental in Rajasthan’s chase of a 180-run target, which they achieved with eight balls to spare.
Harbhajan expressed his thoughts on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), where he praised Jaiswal's resilience and class, indicating the transient nature of form compared to inherent skill. He stated, “Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knock is proof that class is permanent. Form is temporary @ybj_19 and there shouldn’t be any debate about Keeper batsman. @IamSanjuSamson should walk into the Indian team for the T20 World Cup and also be groomed as the next T20 captain for India after Rohit. Koi shak???”
The former cricketer's post not only highlighted Jaiswal's comeback performance but also emphasized the potential he sees in Sanju Samson stepping up as a leader for the national team. This push for Samson's inclusion in the World Cup squad and as a future captain reflects a significant nod to his capabilities and performance in the IPL.
Harbhajan’s comments have sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts and experts about the future leadership and composition of the Indian T20 team. As Rohit Sharma’s tenure as captain approaches its twilight, the search for his successor becomes increasingly pertinent. While many believe Hardik Pandya will be the next captain after Rohit, Sanju Samson's recent performances surely aren't doing his own chances any harm.
The wicket-keeper batter is having an extraordinary IPL 2024. He has not only led his side to 7 victories in 8 matches but he has also been a terrific performer with the bat, managing 314 runs at an average of 62.8 and a SR in excess of 150.
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