India youngster Sanju Samson continues his sharp rise

Sudhir Gupta 06:22 04/08/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Prolific: Samson top-scored for India A in the Quadrungular One Day Series in Australia.

    India’s ‘wonder kid’ Sanju Samson is taking big strides since stealing the show in the Indian Premier League in 2013 where he was named the Best Young Player.

    That year he also had the distinction of becoming the youngest player to notch a fifty in both the IPL and the Champions League Twenty20.

    The 19-year-old wicketkeeper batsman was back in the spotlight shaping India’s success in the Quadrangular A Team One-Day Series that concluded in Australia on Saturday.

    A stylish top order batsman who began his career as opener, Samson batted at No6 during the tournament. The change in batting position did not affect his performance at all as he scored 244 runs in seven matches, averaging an impressive 81.33, to emerge as the highest rungetter for the team.

    With the frontline batsman floundering Samson led the firefighting operations on most occasions, hauling the team over the line.

    Samson’s hunger for success and eagerness to learn are other attributes that stand out according to India A coach Abhay Sharma who insists the teenager is “definitely the future” for India.

    – Sanju Samson interview: India's prestigious talent lighting up the U19 World Cup

    “As a batsman, he is a very sensible player,” Sharma said marking him out as a great prospect. “He understands situations and adapts his game to them. His innings against Australia A in the opening match was outstanding. He took us close in a game we had almost lost.”

    Chasing 253, India were in a spot of bother in that match as they further slipped to 84-6. Samson responded with an 81 to set up the win. He also played a hand in India’s other two successive chases in the tournament by remaining unbeaten on 55 and 49.

    A prolific run-getter in Under-19 tournaments, Samson has carried that form into the senior level. In the four-day Ranji Trophy domestic matches representing Kerala, he made 530 runs averaging 58.88 and following it up by scoring 339 runs from 13 matches for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2014 with a strike rate of 124.17.

    A former wicketkeeper who played 89 first-class matches, Sharma believes Samson has to be nurtured properly. “Going forward, we will have to handle him very well, for he has to bat and keep too,” he told ESPNcricinfo.

    “He took that responsibility very well this time but we will have to work on him very carefully.” “His keeping is improving day by day. A little more work has to be done on a couple of technical things and constant monitoring is needed. He is a very good learner.”

    Recommended