Former New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan believes Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson will not be selected as India's number three batsman for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
McClenaghan criticised Rajasthan's defeat while appearing on ESPNcricinfo's post-match analysis with Deep Dasgupta and Tom Moody. His comments came after Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan with the last ball of Match 24, ending Samson's unbeaten run as captain this IPL season.
The Rajasthan Royals batting order has looked solid since the start of the season, but Samson deserves special credit for his skilful bowling changes. He has been adept at managing a bowling line-up that includes big names such as Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin. Samson's astute handling of the bowlers has been impressive.
Batting at number 3, Sanju Samson has made valuable contributions with the bat in addition to his leadership as captain. He has often set the tone for the team's innings, setting the tone for other batsmen with his effective batting.
In the 1st innings of yesterday's match against Gujarat Titans, Samson showcased his leadership and batting prowess. The 29-year-old first anchored Rajasthan's innings with a 130-run partnership with Riyan Parag and then added the finishing touches in the death overs with his trademark flair.
McClenaghan admitted that he is a big fan of Sanju Samson. However, Mc feels that Samson is unlikely to make India's playing XI for the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies due to the depth of wicketkeeper-batsmen in the team:
“Although Sanju Samson is one of my favorite players but with India’s current top three batters seemingly locked in, I don’t foresee him being selected. Right or wrong, his path to the team appears closed for now.”
Sanju Samson is a contender for the T20 World Cup, but how big a case does the Rajasthan Royals captain have? #TimeOut @DeepDasgupta7 | @TomMoodyCricket | @Mitch_Savage pic.twitter.com/wrrB83axV8
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 10, 2024
The former pacer also believes that Samson will be a strong addition to the team's top order. McClenaghan hailed Samson as one of the best Indian No. 3 batsmen in IPL history.
Samson doesn't get regular opportunities and has been deemed unfit for the national team after a couple of failures.