Image Source: PTI
[Saba Sports News] After his century in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, Sanju Samson expressed his aspirations to play Test cricket for India.
Having debuted in T20Is in 2015 and ODIs in 2021, Samson has struggled to secure a consistent spot in the national team and has often been a backup option due to his fluctuating performances. Now, however, he feels ready to make an impact in red-ball cricket.
“I believe I have the skill set to succeed in red-ball cricket and don’t want to be restricted to just white-ball formats. I want to play Tests for India,” Samson shared.
He revealed that ahead of the 2024 Duleep Trophy, the Indian team management reached out to him, encouraging him to focus on Ranji cricket, as he is now under consideration for Test selection. “Before the Duleep Trophy, the leadership group told me I’m in the mix for red-ball cricket and asked me to take it seriously by playing more Ranji Trophy matches.”
Having played 64 first-class games with 3819 runs at an average of 38.96, Samson missed the opening round of the ongoing Ranji Trophy but is set to return for Kerala’s match against Karnataka on October 18. He also shared that India head coach Gautam Gambhir has been a tremendous source of support and confidence.
“From the beginning, he told me not to be afraid and that he has my back,” Samson said. “He believes in my talent, and his support is a huge confidence boost.”