T20 World Cup: Sanju Samson is ready to play as India's first-choice wicketkeeper, says Naman Ojha

The importance of Samson

The veteran Ojha, who has gone through the rigours of the IPL with Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Daredevils, wants selectors to visualise Samson as a permanent wicketkeeper-batter for India. "It should not be 'if you perform, we will keep you, or else, we will send you back'. He is ready to play as a batter and a keeper-batter also. He needs opportunities. You can't give him a couple of matches and then drop him. If you give him a series, he can establish himself as a permanent wicketkeeper-batter for India. There will always be jitters and nerves that need to be out of a player's mind. 

"Samson is ready to play as India's first-choice wicketkeeper and a middle-order batter who can take anybody's position in the T20 World Cup. He is important in the Indian team," added Ojha, who had made his Test debut under Virat Kohli in 2015 but retired in 2021.

Ojha feels Samson is a perfect fit in the Indian playing XI and lauded his wicketkeeping skills. "He has been keeping for so many years for Rajasthan Royals and his state team Kerala. It is a hectic job, especially when you are also looking to bat through the innings and march your troops alongside. Samson has been occupied full-time in his head. I want him to play for India as a permanent member in ODIs and T20I cricket," said Ojha, who toiled for 20 seasons in the domestic circuit for Madhya Pradesh.
Sighting the ball for 20 overs from behind the stumps can enhance hand-eye coordination while batting, and to maximise the skill, Ojha feels Samson can bat up the order to score more runs. "With time, Samson should be promoted up the order. He can bat anywhere from No. 3 to No. 5. You may see the ball better after keeping in every game but you also develop soreness in the lower limb as you get older. It gets tricky to get your footwork correct from ball one after keeping wickets, especially when facing a delivery coming at 150 kmph," said Ojha, whose IPL career ended in 2018 with 1,554 runs, six fifties, 63 catches, and 10 stumping dismissals.

India will start their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York