“No question mark”: Suryakumar Yadav backs Sanju Samson to retain wicketkeeper role in IND vs ENG 1st T20I

India's T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav categorically stated that there was no question mark on Sanju Samson ahead of IND vs ENG 1st T20I

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has thrown his weight behind Sanju Samson to don the keeper’s gloves in IND vs ENG 1st T20I. Amid a standoff with the Kerala Cricket Association, the keeper-batter will be a part of the five-match T20I series that will begin on January 22. Samson was in red-hot form during the team’s previous T20I series in the latter half of 2024.

Sanju Samson set to be retained in India’s XI for IND vs ENG 1st T20I

Speaking to reporters ahead of IND vs ENG 1st T20I in Kolkata, Suryakumar stated that there was no question mark on the wicketkeeper Samson. He pointed out that the Kerala keeper-batter had done exceptionally well in the last few games, showing what he was capable of. Apart from his heroics behind the stumps, Samson sizzled with the bat at the top of the order. He became the only Indian to smash three T20I centuries in the previous calendar year in the shortest format.

“Currently, there is no question mark on the wicketkeeper. Sanju has done really well in the last seven-eight games. He has shown what he is capable of,” Surya said.

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After leading Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Samson had requested a break before the Vijay Hazare tournament. However, he was excluded from the squad. Recently, KCA president Jayesh George had accused Samson of sending a one-line text to the association to explain his unavailability to join the camp before the 50-over domestic tournament. The controversy came to the fore after Sanju was excluded from India’s ICC Champions Trophy squad, with several reports speculating that his absence from the Vijay Hazare Tournament led to him being snubbed.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Samson in IND vs ENG 1st T20I as the team will expect him to continue the fireworks at the top-order. There was a slight doubt if Dhruv Jurel, who has also been included in the squad, would be preferred ahead of Samson. However, that speculation has been put to rest with the Indian skipper backing the latter to retain his spot.