Shastri questions Samson's recent exclusion, backs keeper-batter as Abhishek’s opening partner: 'He is a natural'

After being sidelined for the first three games of the series, with the fourth match in Lucknow getting abandoned without a ball bowled, India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson finally got an opportunity to bat during the fifth T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad. All thanks to a toe injury to T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill, who has been preferred as Abhishek Sharma’s opening partner since the Asia Cup in September.

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After playing at various positions during this time and getting sidelined in favour of Jitesh Sharma during the Australia tour, Samson was back to his preferred slot – as Abhishek’s opening partner.

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And though he did not score a half-century, Samson did impress with the bat as he smashed four fours and two sixes during his knock of 37 off 22 balls, striking at 168.18 and forging an attacking 63-run opening stand with Abhishek, who chipped in with a 21-ball 34.

‘Why is he not in the side in the first place?’

What stood out during Samson’s knock was the effortlessness with which he played his shots, especially when clearing the fence. And former India head coach Ravi Shastri couldn’t help but question the 31-year-old’s absence from the T20I playing XI while on commentary duty at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

“Why is he not in the side in the first place? When you see him play like this, you can’t help but wonder why it took an injury to bring him in. He is a natural at the top of the order. He already has three hundreds in T20 cricket, including two back-to-back hundreds against South Africa. He is explosive, dangerous, and capable of shots like these. Where do you even bowl to him?” Shastri said on air during the series finale in Ahmedabad.

Samson and Abhishek’s aggressive opening stand gave India the perfect start after South Africa captain Aiden Markram opted to field, but it was Tilak Varma (73) and Hardik Pandya’s (63) blazing half-centuries that ultimately helped the Men in Blue post a mammoth 231/5 on the board. Pandya brought up his half-century in just 16 balls, the second-quickest by an Indian in T20Is.

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South Africa, in reply, were off to an ideal start themselves thanks to Quinton de Kock’s 65 off 35 balls, and were going strong at 120/1 at the halfway stage. De Kock’s dismissal, however, proved to be the turning point, with the Proteas losing wickets at regular intervals thereafter, and eventually falling 30 runs short, resulting in a 3-1 series victory for the Suryakumar Yadav-led hosts.