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'I Prefer Him Because...,’  Raina Explains Why Samson Should Keep At T20 World Cup 2024

image-lr983pbmSamson is one of the contenders for the keeper's role. (X.com) 

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina is throwing his support behind the 'X-factor' player Sanju Samson to take on the wicketkeeper role for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to be held in the USA and West Indies.

The ongoing three-match series against Afghanistan has seen the selection of Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma for the wicketkeeper's role. KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are the other two contenders for the same keeper's role, but Raina believes that the Rajasthan Royals skipper should be given the opportunity.

While Samson hasn't shown consistent performances in the shortest format at the international level, Raina points to his recent stunning century against South Africa in the ODI series as evidence of his potential. With the top-order slots seemingly filled with the return of big names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with the consideration of Shubman Gill, Raina suggests that Samson should bat in the middle order for India.

In an interaction arranged by Jio Cinema, Raina emphasised Samson's captain material, citing his strategic thinking on the field. Raina acknowledged other strong contenders for the wicketkeeper-batter role but expressed his preference for Samson in the middle order due to his ability to play a wide range of shots, especially against pacers.

"Sanju has made a wonderful hundred against South Africa recently. He is definitely captain material as his mind is ticking all the time while on the field. We have some very good options for the wicketkeeper-batter role -- KL Rahul, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Pant whenever he comes back after getting fit. I prefer to have Sanju in the middle-order because he has a lot of shots. He plays those pick-up shots against pacers from the length,”  Suresh Raina told Sports18.

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup scheduled for June 2, Raina reckons that Samson can be India's X-Factor in the tournament. The ex-Chennai Super Kings batter suggests that Samson's performance in the ongoing series against Afghanistan and the subsequent IPL will be crucial in keeping the selectors interested in his candidacy for the T20 World Cup.

“Hopefully, he performs well in the IPL too before the selectors sit down to select the team for the T20 World Cup. So, it is a good chance for Sanju against Afghanistan, and he can be our X-Factor in the World Cup,''  he added.

The 2024 T20 World Cup will kick-start on June 2, with the hosts, the USA taking on Canada in the opening match. The Men in Blue have been placed in Group A alongside the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Pakistan. They are scheduled to kick off their campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York.

While the T20 World Cup is still a few months away, India faces the task of strategizing their options. Given the limited number of T20I games before the World Cup, selectors are expected to make decisions based on the performances of contenders for the wicketkeeper position in the IPL.