"Don't mind batting at 9, bowl left-arm spin": Sanju Samson's clear message after ODI snub

Sanju Samson in action during Asia Cup 2025 [Source: AFP]

Swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has made it clear that he is ready to perform whatever role the Indian team management demands from him in the upcoming international matches. On Tuesday, Samson received the T20I batter of the year award in a grand event organised by CEAT, where he also opened up on his readiness to contribute in every capacity to the team's cause. 

Samson doesn't mind to bat at 9, bowl left-arm spin for India

While receiving the CEAT cricket award as the best T20I batter of the year, Samson reflected on his cricketing journey. Looking back at his career spanning ten years, Samson reckoned that despite playing 40-odd games, he feels privileged to have represented India at the highest level. 

The explosive batter stated that he's ready to serve India in whatever role the team wants him to perform. As the 30-year-old put it, he wouldn't mind batting at number nine and rolling his arms for a few overs of left-arm spin if the Indian team needs him to do that. 

“Even if you want me to bat at No. 9, maybe bowl some left-arm spin, whatever job for the team, I don’t mind. I recently completed 10 years, but I’ve played only 40 games. Honestly, I put in a post saying the numbers don’t tell the whole story, but I’m actually proud of the person I am today, and I’m also proud of the challenges I went through. Instead of focusing on the outside noise, I started a habit of focusing on the internal noise,” Samson said at CEAT awards. 

Sanju Samson is a member of the Indian T20I squad that will face Australia in a five-match series Down Under. Considering India have picked Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, Samson is likely to bat in the middle order, just like he did in the Asia Cup 2025. 

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