Former India Player Robin Uthappa Backs Sanju Samson Amid Form Concerns
Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has come out in strong support of under-fire opener Sanju Samson, drawing parallels with captain Suryakumar Yadav's journey and emphasizing that form should not be the primary concern. Uthappa believes that until Tilak Varma is fully fit, Samson should continue to be given opportunities as India's opener, despite a series of poor scores, including five misfires against New Zealand in the recently-concluded T20I series.
Uthappa Compares Samson's Situation to Suryakumar Yadav's Experience
Uthappa pointed out that just like Suryakumar Yadav, who faced criticism before finding his rhythm, Samson deserves time and patience from the team management. He stated, "Form will always be temporary, be it Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, or Rohit Sharma. When you are a cricketer of that calibre, I don't think the form of Sanju Samson is an issue." Uthappa highlighted that even Suryakumar wasn't out of form but rather didn't get to play in one position long enough, a situation he sees mirrored in Samson's case.
The 'Sword' Hanging Over Samson's Head
Uthappa elaborated on the pressure Samson has faced, noting that a 'sword' has always been hanging over his head, with constant threats to his spot in the playing XI. "Yes, he has got the opportunities and not performed in them. But there has also always been a sword over his head that if he doesn't perform, there is someone waiting for his spot," Uthappa explained. He argued that Samson has never had the chance to bat unencumbered, and when given that freedom, he has performed well, such as in partnerships with Abhishek Sharma where they "look like a million bucks."
Uthappa's Recommendation for Team India
Uthappa advocated for sticking with Samson, similar to how India should have carried Suryakumar even during lean patches. "He has got the opportunities, but as I said about Surya, in any World Cup, you will carry one player. I was saying Carry Surya if that's required because when he comes off, he'll win you matches like he's winning now in the New Zealand series. The same applies for Sanju Samson," Uthappa said. He suggested keeping Ishan Kishan at No. 3 and only making changes when Tilak Varma is ready, to field the best XI.
India is set to begin its ICC T20 World Cup campaign on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, adding urgency to the selection debates surrounding players like Samson.
