This Indian Premier League (IPL) season also happens to be an audition for the T20 World Cup beginning on June 2, as players from around the world showcase their skills to find a place in the squad of their respective national teams. One such spot that the Indian team is deliberating upon is that of wicketkeeper-batsman. And former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has no doubt that it should go to none other than Rajasthan Royals' captain Sanju Samson.
IPL 2024: ResultsPoints Table
While Rishabh Pant returning fit after his horrific car crash in December 2022 and scoring two half-centuries as Delhi Capitals' captain besides keeping wickets without any trouble has left little doubt for many that he should be on the flight to T20 World Cup, Harbhajan feels Samson's consistency and confidence will serve India better at the ICC event.
The T20 World Cup runs from June 2 to 29 in the USA and West Indies.
Samson, who currently stands fourth among top run-getters this IPL with 314 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of 152.42 and has three half-centuries, once again delivered with a knock of 38 not out in Rajasthan Royals' impressive nine-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in Jaipur on Monday.
Harbhajan, while praising centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal (104*), did not mince words in saying that Samson should not just be India's first-choice glovesman for the T20 World Cup but should also be groomed as India's next T20 captain.
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"Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knock is a proof of class is permanent, form is temporary @ybj_19 and there shouldn’t be any debate about keeper-batsman. @IamSanjuSamson should walk into the Indian team for T20 World Cup and also groomed as a next T20 captain for india after Rohit. Koi shak ???" Harbhajan wrote on microblogging website 'X'.
Under Samson's captaincy, RR have won seven of their eight matches in IPL 2024 so far to sit on top of the table with 14 points.
Samson's closest rivals for wicketkeeper-batsman's spot for the T20 World Cup are Pant, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan.
Rahul has scored 286 runs in 7 matches this season, Pant 254 in 8 matches and Kishan 192 in 8 matches.
