Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri backed wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson as the next captain of India’s T20I side. Notably, there have been reports doing rounds on social media, suggesting that the BCCI is seeking a new face at the helm of India’s T20I side. Sources have suggested that Samson is currently leading the race to take over the reins. The change in the captaincy could take place as early as the upcoming series against Ireland and England this summer.
Amid the reports, former India coach Ravi Shastri has weighed over Samson replacing Suryakumar Yadav at the top. The broadcaster opined that having Samson as the captain should be a no brainer considering his form and experience of leading a side as he did for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. "India, come the next (T20) World Cup (in 2028), might be looking for a new captain, depending on how Surya goes over the next couple of years. But Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role because he's done that in the past for Rajasthan (Royals),” Shastri said in a discussion on the ICC Review.
"And he's a certainty in the side, at the top of the order, extremely destructive. So I see him, this is just the start of something more you'll see from Sanju over the next two or three years. I think he (Samson) has put a lid on all those question marks. There was always ability. People would, in fact, be disappointed because he wouldn't do justice to that ability,” he added.
"But my word this season, the way he's played after his performance in the T20 World Cup where single-handedly he almost won India games, the big games, the quarter-finals (West Indies, Super 8), semi-finals, the final, and the way he stepped up and the maturity he's showing now in the IPL, makes him a clear case as far as I'm concerned for leadership in the future,” the 1983 World Cup winning cricketer opined.
Why is change required in India’s T20I side captaincy?
Notably, Suryakumar Yadav, who led the side to their third T20 World Cup title earlier this year has been going through a poor form. In the marquee tournament, he scored 242 runs in eight innings with an average of 40.33 and 135.20 but failed to perform against big names. In the current IPL season, he has scored just 195 runs across 11 matches with a modest average of 17.72 and a strike rate of below 150.
On the other hand, Samson enjoyed a dreamy run at the World Cup, especially since India’s last Super 8 clash against West Indies. He came up with three consecutive half-centuries and played a crucial role in helping India lift the trophy. As for the IPL, he is Chennai Super Kings’ highest runscorer and has already scored two centuries for his new franchise.
