India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav backed Sanju Samson to continue the wicketkeeper role during the T20I series vs England. Samson was left out of the India squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. Samson averages over 50 in ODIs, yet the BCCI preferred Rishabh Pant as first-choice wicketkeeper. According to reports, the BCCI was not happy with Samson not playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Samson was left out of the Kerala squad after he skipped the three-day preparation camp ahead of the tournament. KCA president Jayesh George also slammed the senior wicketkeeper batter and stated that he cannot “turn up for Kerala whenever he feels like it."

Despite the controversies surrounding the Kerala batter, Suryakumar Yadav provided the much-needed relief to Samson. Surya said that Samson's astonishing form makes him an automatic selection in the Indian XI. Samson had a great T20I series in South Africa and slammed back-to-back centuries. He also slammed a hundred in the preceding T20I series against Bangladesh.

"There is no question mark on the wicketkeeper. Sanju has done really well in the last seven-eight games. He has shown what he is capable of," Suryakumar stated.

Samson wasn't a regular in the Indian team, however, the retirement of Rohit Sharma allowed India to test him as an opener, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Suryakumar Yadav lauded Samson for capitalizing on the provided opportunity.

."That is what we want from all the players. He has got the opportunity and he has really made use of it. I am really happy for him," he added.

In 13 T20Is last year, Samson accumulated 436 runs at an average of 43.60, with a strike rate of over 180, including three centuries and a fifty. He also became the first batter in the world to score three T20I hundreds in a calendar year.

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