Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson recently opened up his time on the bench. Despite being selected regularly for the side in the T20s, Samson has spent most of his time on the bench. However, Samson said that he loved his time in the dressing room as he got to learn from the best in the game including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
After a consistent show in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, Sanju Samson was selected for the T20I series against Bangladesh but failed to get any game. He later was dropped against West Indies last year, but included in the team at the last moment owing to an injury to Shikhar Dhawan. However, he again failed to get any chance as the team management preferred Rishabh Pant over him. The right-handed batsman played his 2nd ever T20I for India in the 3rd T20 against Sri Lanka.
While speaking about his time bench, Samson went on to say:
I looked at the brighter side of things. I got to share the dressing room with legends like Virat bhai and Rohit bhai and there is a lot to learn from them even if we just observe the way they handle themselves on and off the ground. And then to be a part of the world’s best cricket team is not a small thing.
Sanju Samson finally got his chances earlier this year as he played 2 T20Is in the 5-game T20I series against the Blackcaps. However, he could not encash his chances and failed with the bat.
Opening about his time in New Zealand Samson said –
The New Zealand tour was one of the best times of my life. Yes, it is true that I could not perform with the bat the way I would have loved to. But I believe the change of style that I have adopted in my batting recently will sometimes lead to failures. I have started to accept that fact and I wait and prepare for my next big successful innings.
Talking about batting alongside Virat Kohli in the 4th T20I, Sanju further added –
In fact, I was sent in to bat in the super over again in a tight match (fourth T20I in Wellington), that too with Virat Kohli. So you can make out the trust the Indian team had on me. That moment was a huge achievement in my career.