Shashi Tharoor Exclusive on Sanju Samson: 'Really thought Samson would become the next MS Dhoni'

Sanju Samson was in the form of his life on Thursday when he scored his maiden international century during the third and final ODI against South Africa in Paarl. It was a redemption act of sorts for the Kerala batter who has been in and out of the team ever since making his international debut in a T20I against Zimbabwe in 2015.

Even in ODIs, Samson has had limited opportunities. Since making his ODI debut in 2021 against Sri Lanka, Samson has played just 16 ODIs and scored 512 runs at an average of 56.67.

Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, who is a big fan of Samson has seen him from close quarters as a teenager and said that he always thought Samson would become the next MS Dhoni.

“Sanju was only 15 at the time and I said this 15-year-old would become the next MS Dhoni. I know this next someone is unfair to a player because everyone as an individual and unique and so on but he is capable of playing amazing shots everywhere and he is someone who has oodles of talent,” Shashi Tharoor told Rupha Ramani during an exclusive interview on the First Sports show.

“Long story short, I really thought he would be the next Dhoni when there was the unexpected emergency of the magnificent Rishabh Pant, and now Ishan Kishan is also in the mix,” he added.

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Shashi Tharoor noted Sanju Samson’s average of over 50 in ODIs and said it was not a small matter. “Long story short, I really thought he would be the next Dhoni when there was the unexpected emergency of the magnificent Rishabh Pant, and now Ishan Kishan is also in the mix,” Shashi Tharoor added.

Tharoor went on to call Samson an “amazing cricketer” and spoke about how “unlucky” he is.

“He’s just an amazing, amazing cricketer, and he has been somewhat unlucky that he has so little to show for it in terms of appearances in India colours in a career that started in Zimbabwe in 2015 and yet here we are eight-and half years later, he has played 20 odd T20Is and 16 ODIs.

“Most of his batting has been number six, one or two matches at number seven. You don’t get to score hundreds at that level. Normally, he bats at number one, two or three, and now in ODIs you give him a chance at number three and he scores a century,” added Tharoor.