For the 3rd IND vs. AFG T20I, Sanju Samson makes it to the playing XI. Fans react on Twitter.
Samson is waging a hard battle at the moment to stake a claim in India's T20I squad. The wicketkeeper-batter has been overshadowed by explosive performances by Jitesh Sharma of late and is in dire need of a notable knock to remain in the scheme of things.
Samson's last T20I appearance came during an away series against Ireland in August 2023. Before that, he was part of all five T20Is against the West Indies but failed to make an impression after scoring just 32 runs in three innings.
He scored his maiden ODI hundred in the series decider against South Africa and made one first-class appearance for Kerala recently, where he scored 35 runs. The mere mention of Sanju Samson's name during the toss by Team India skipper Rohit Sharma got the crowd at Chinnaswamy Stadium, showcasing the faith that fans still have in the wicketkeeper-batter.
Here are some of the reactions on Twitter following Samson's inclusion in the third T20I against Afghanistan. One of the users wrote, “That roar from the crowd when Rohit Sharma announced that Sanju Samson is playing today.” Another user wrote, "The fanbase of Sanju Samson is massive. You can hear the crowd whenever he is announced to be playing 11.”