New Delhi: Anil Kumble wants Sanju Samson to be a consistent run scorer in international cricket after hitting his maiden T20I hundred in India’s previous series against Bangladesh.
Samson struck 111 off 47 balls, studded with 11 boundaries and eight sixes, hammering the second fastest T20I ton by an Indian in India’s 133-run win that ensured 3-0 series sweep over Bangladesh.
Kumble noted that the BCCI selectors would expect Samson to exhibit consistency after that eye-catching knock against Bangladesh.
“That hundred certainly would have given him a lot of confidence. We know the ability of Sanju Samson, he is a class act. The consistency is something that is a little missing, and that’s something I’m sure the Indian selectors would be looking for,” Kumble told Jio Cinema.
“Keeping him at the top of the innings, either at Nos 1, 2 and 3 is where he can certainly add a lot of value to this team.
“He has that backfoot play, plenty of time against fast bowlers, and he can destroy the spinners too. It’ll be good to see how he copes with those four games in South Africa in those conditions,” he added.
‘Give uncapped trio a chance’
Kumble also believes Yash Dayal, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Ramandeep Singh are ready for international cricket and should be tried out in India’s tour of South Africa.
The uncapped trio are in the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team that will begin their five-match T20I tour in Durban on Friday. VVS Laxman has accompanied the team as coach.
“I hope all these three get an opportunity to play for the Indian team because all of them have really done well at the domestic level,” Kumble told Jio Cinema.
Pacer Dayal has impressed Kumbale, particularly for the mental fortitude after being hit for five successive sixes during an IPL match in 2023.
“Yash Dayal, after those five sixes by Rinku Singh, has certainly come back strong. That shows a lot about his character,” the former India skipper said.
“He’s a fantastic left-arm seamer and moves the ball both ways. He’s developed his game around bowling in the death overs as well; he did really well for RCB last season.”
‘Vijaykumar’s release by RCB a surprise’
Pacer Vijaykumar has also made an impression on Kumble, who expressed surprise at Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s decision to release him.
“Vyshak is really good. (Once) again, (he is) a domestic player who’s done a lot of good work for Karnataka. Unfortunately, he didn’t get enough opportunities for RCB, and I was a bit surprised that they didn’t retain him,” he said.
“I hope he gets an opportunity in South Africa. He has all the variations of bowling in the death overs.”
Ramandeep deserves to be tried out as a bowler as he is a handy customer with the ball apart from his explosive batting, the former leg-spinner said.
“He has really come up with strides, especially after his move to KKR. Batting in that middle period where he’s been that striker, who can really destroy even when he gets three or four balls,” Kumble said.
“That has been the best part about Ramandeep. He’s a gun fielder; we’ve seen that in that emerging championship (Emerging Teams Asia Cup). He bowls a bit too.”
“I hope he gets to do the bowling part as well because people tend to ignore the all-rounders, especially with the impact player rule in the IPL.”
Anil Kumble said that the BCCI selectors would expect Sanju Samson to exhibit consistency in the T20I series in South Africa after that eye-catching knock against Bangladesh. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
