“Not A Youngster Anymore”: Sanju Samson’s Kerala Teammate Says He Lacks Consistency-TGN

Former India and Kerala fast bowler Sreesanth opined that Sanju Samson needs to work on his “attitude” to gain back his place in the Indian team. Sreesanth also feels that Samson’s exclusion from Team India’s World Cup 2023 squad is the correct call.

Sanju Samson boasts an average of 55 after 12 ODI innings. Yet the Rajasthan Royals skipper didn’t find a place in the squads for the Asia Cup 2023, the ongoing Australia ODI series, and the upcoming World Cup. India preferred Suryakumar Yadav over Samson for the World Cup while Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad too have been preferred over the Keralan superstar.

Sreesanth, who played with Samson in the 2021 domestic season, reckons Samson needs to understand himself better and that despite his talents, he’s not been able to play long innings.

“I think it’s the right decision (to not pick Samson for World Cup) because it’s very important for a player to understand himself,” Sreesanth told Sportskeeda.

“From Gavaskar sir to Harsha Bhogle sir and Ravi Shastri sir, everyone rates him highly. There’s no doubt about his ability. But the approach… he doesn’t listen when someone asks him to play according to pitch. He can change that attitude.”

“Sanju Samson is not a youngster anymore”: Sreesanth

Sreesanth was also there at Rajasthan Royals when Samson was starting out in the IPL a decade ago. Regarding what Samson has been lacking, the former fast bowler made it clear that Samson is not a youngster anymore; and that the right-hander has lacked consistency in his batting despite having gotten chances for India and having played for a decade in the IPL.

“Malyali log jo unko support karte hai bolte hai ki chances nahi mil raha hai. Hum nahi bol skte aisa. Kyuki Ireland against regular chances mile, itne saare matches khele unhone, IPL mein pichle 10 saal se khel rahe hai. Pr Consistency nahi dikhayi.

“Sanju agar aap sunn rahe ho toh aapko bahut sare runs score karna padega aur consistently score karna padega. Kabhi bhi ye mat socho ki aapko mauka nahi mil raha. Aapko mauka jarur mil raha hai. You are not a youngster anymore. You are getting older every day. You are not a 19-year-old; you are going to be 35 in no time,” Sreesanth added.