Sanju Samson’s post in Malayalam goes viral after T20 World Cup selection. cricket news

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson posted an emotional message on social media after being included in the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The hard work and consistency shown by Samson as captain and batsman of Rajasthan Royals during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has paid off. Because he was selected as the wicketkeeper-batsman in the team along with Rishabh Pant. After the team announcement, the Kerala-born batsman posted in Malayalam on Instagram, “Viyarpu Thuniyita Kuppayam”, which translates to “shirt stitched with sweat and hard work”.

Samson made his T20I debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe, which was also his international debut, but over the years, due to the better performance of other players, the presence of MS Dhoni and Pant, he has got very few playing opportunities. The wicketkeeper slot and its inconsistency. His T20I stats don’t really do justice to his talent and hitting abilities. In 25 T20Is, he has scored only 374 runs at an average of 18.70 and a strike rate of 133.09, which includes one half-century. His best score is 77.

However, his performance in the IPL has been really good. In 161 matches of his IPL career, he has scored 4,273 runs at an average of 30.96 and strike rate of 139.04, which includes three centuries and 24 fifties. His best score is 119.

The current IPL season is turning out to be the best season for him. Not only is his team on top with eight wins from nine matches, but Samson has shown next-level consistency with the bat, scoring 385 runs at an average of 77.00 and a strike rate of over 161 with four half-centuries. His best score is 82*. Currently he is the seventh highest run scorer in the tournament.

His rival for the spot, KL Rahul, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, and Pant have also done well in the IPL so far.

In 10 matches, KL has scored 406 runs at an average of 40.60, strike rate of 142.95 and three half-centuries. His best score is 82*. He is the fourth highest run scorer in the tournament.

Pant is the fifth-highest run-scorer with 398 runs at an average of 44.22, a strike rate of 158.56 and three half-centuries. His best score is 88*.

India have been placed in Group A of the tournament along with arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA. Their campaign begins against Ireland on June 5 at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, before they take on Pakistan on June 9 in one of the most anticipated matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal. , Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khalil Ahmed and Avesh Khan.

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