It’s not a question of battle between Rishabh Pant and Samson and both the wicketkeeper-batters can be part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, legendary Brian Lara and former India batter Ambati Rayudu said. The senior national selectors are keeping a close eye on IPL 2024 as the squad for the T20 World Cup is expected to be picked by the end of April. While India have a problem of plenty for each spot, competition for the wicketkeeper’s slot is also getting intense.
While answering a question from IndiaToday.in at Star Sports Press Room show, Ambati Rayudu praised Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson for their current form in the ongoing IPL 2024. The 6-time IPL champion highlighted that Samson has the ability to be flexible, highlighting his form at the top of the order for the Royals in the ongoing season.
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“I think Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant definitely, should both be in contention for the T20 World Cup. They both should go for the T20 World Cup, because they can play in the middle order. Especially, Sanju can even open. He can be flexible in the order. They have both done the best job so far,” Rayudu said.
Brian Lara seconded Ambati Rayudu’s take, saying Pant and Samson, at the moment, are definitely frontrunners for spots in the T20 World Cup squad.
“I think both players should go. They both have put the best show so far in terms of batting. Sanju Samson is an awesome player, a great timer of the ball. Rishabh Pant has been so good for India over the years. Obviously, coming back from the incident, I think he has shown great form. For me, those 2 are definitely the frontrunners for the position,” Lara said at the Star Sports Press Room Show.
HOW HAVE PANT AND SAMSON PERFORMED IN IPL 2024?
Pant has been leading Delhi’s charge with his exceptional display of batting. Despite Delhi reeling at the bottom of the points table with just 1 win in 5 matches, Pant has showcased he still has it in him and that he is ready for the rigours of competitive cricket after the miraculous recovery from multiple injury setbacks. Pant played a 51-run knock from 32 deliveries against CSK at Vizag and propelled the team to a win by 20 runs. He followed it up with another half-century as he scored 55 runs from 25 balls against the Knight Riders in Vizag. However, his efforts were not enough to help the team win the match as DC lost by 106 runs.
Meanwhile, Samson stands in 5th spot for the Orange Cap race of IPL 2024. He has scored 178 runs in 4 matches for RR so far. The skipper’s great form with the bat has been one of the key reasons for Rajasthan’s resurgence in the tournament so far as they stand at the top spot of the points table.
Samson will look to continue scoring runs for RR to put a strong contention for his spot in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup. The tournament will begin from June 1 as India will face Ireland in their first match on June 5.