Pragyan Ojha. Picture Credit: PTI
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha has compared the likes of Sanju Samson and other youngsters to pre-paid sim cards while explaining how they need to perform consistently to secure a place in the Indian national team. Ojha's remark comes after Samson scored an outstanding hundred in his maiden IPL match as captain, winning the Player of the Match even as his team faced a narrow 4-run defeat in their opening game.
In an interaction on Sports Today after Rajasthan's 3-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in their second match on Thursday, Ojha stated that Samson is indeed a great talent but it is important for players like him to rise above the competition through consistent performances to be a regular member of the Indian team.
A few youngsters are like pre-paid sim cards: Pragyan Ojha
"When you talk about Sanju Samson, there is one thing. When he came into this side, there was no Rishabh Pant, there was no Ishan Kishan," Ojha told Sports Today.
"In this present Indian team, consider this interesting story Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are like post-paid sim cards. They can push themselves for a bit more time without paying the bills," he added.
"But quite a few youngsters are like pre-paid sim cards. It has to be renewed in the given time otherwise the sim is dead. All these youngsters should understand they are not post-paid sim cards. They are pre-paid sim cards, to become postpaid, they have to perform consistently," he explained.
Samson is one of the few young Indian players who have played more than 100 IPL matches. In 109 matches, the Kerala wicketkeeper has scored 2707 runs at an average of less than 30. At the international level, Samson has played 7 T20Is but is yet to get a 30-plus score.