Team India’s wicketkeeper-batter, Sanju Samson, has publicly stated that he holds no resentment over losing his opening position to vice-captain Shubman Gill. This shift occurred before the Asia Cup, where Samson, who had previously opened with Abhishek Sharma, found himself batting lower down the order once Gill rejoined the T20I squad.
Reflecting on his performance on the challenging slow pitches of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Samson admitted to struggling initially. However, he notably played a crucial innings in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, which helped stabilize the team.
Speaking to broadcasters ahead of the first T20I against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, Samson explained his adaptable mindset. “To be honest, I have played a lot of different roles for many different teams,” he said. “I’ve been a part of this team for a long time now and have taken on various responsibilities. I’ve opened, and I’ve finished matches. Now, I’m batting in the middle order. In this team, only the openers have fixed positions; the rest of us batters must be prepared to step in at any time and in any situation. We are well-prepared for that flexibility.”
Samson also expressed his delight at the change in climate. “It definitely feels good to escape the heat of Kerala and enjoy some cold weather here in Canberra. I am absolutely loving it and am excited and looking forward to today’s game.”
When asked about adapting to the Australian weather and conditions, and the work he has put in since arriving, Samson highlighted the importance of skill sets. “Definitely the skill sets. Also, the conditions. The weather as well. You can already see a lot of sweaters among both the crowd and the players,” he noted.
Discussing the team’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the significance of the ongoing five-match T20I series, Samson emphasized a focused approach. “Yesterday, we held a meeting where we discussed the importance of these three upcoming T20I series before the World Cup. Our goal is to focus on one game at a time and deliberately put ourselves under pressure against Australia. These conditions will certainly test us, which is exactly what we need to challenge ourselves physically and mentally. We are eagerly anticipating it.”
