AB de Villiers, the legendary Proteas cricketer, shared his thoughts on Sanju Samson’s return to India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. After being excluded from the ongoing T20I series against Australia and seemingly affected by the 2023 World Cup snub, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is eager to make an impact in the ODI series.
India has made significant changes for the South Africa tour, omitting key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, and Shubman Gill from the ODI squad. KL Rahul will lead the ODI team, having played a crucial role in India’s 2023 World Cup campaign.
AB de Villiers, expressing his views on Samson’s comeback, praised the decision. On his YouTube channel, de Villiers stated, “It’s great to see him in the team. He will enjoy the South African wickets. He stands tall when he bats. There’s a bit of bounce and movement and all the batters will be tested.” He also highlighted that Samson’s inclusion provides an additional wicketkeeping option.
Since his ODI debut in 2021, Samson’s selection has been inconsistent. In 13 ODIs, he has scored 390 runs at an average of 55.71 and a strike rate of 104, including three half-centuries. Samson aims to capitalize on this opportunity to silence his critics and secure a more consistent place in the team.
The ODI series is set to commence on December 17 in Johannesburg, and fans anticipate witnessing Tamil Nadu cricketer Sai Sudharsan’s debut, along with the comeback of seasoned spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who faced controversial exclusions from the Asia Cup and World Cup squads. The series will be crucial for players like Samson to showcase their abilities, especially as senior players like Kohli and Rohit approach the latter stages of their careers.
