Chasing a target of 160 runs against Afghanistan in the first T20I, Team India never looked under pressure as the opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma forged an 88-run partnership for the first wicket. Samson roared back to form with a 57-run knock off just 22 balls as India overhauled the total in just 14.5 overs. The wicket-keeper batter’s exemplary knock put the chatter around his competition with the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to bed, showing the cricket world again that form is temporary, while class is permanent.
Sanju Samson answered the million-dollar question as he shed light on the competition within the team, with fellow openers Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Those kinds of mindsets do not work here,” Samson told reporters in the post-match press conference. Some senior player says something. Definitely, it affects you,” said Samson.
Samson, speaking in the press conference after the game, was asked about the competition for the two opening spots in the T20I team. However, the veteran cricketer produced a mic-drop statement, saying competition only exists for the outside world. For him, both Sooryavanshi and Abhishek are teammates who are playing together for the country. He stressed that there is no chatter in the team about one player being snubbed or another not getting enough opportunities. “I think they (Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma) are competitors for the outside world, but we are a team, and we are playing for our country. We want to win the game first, and then it comes down to the other individuals. We cannot sulk or be in a negative frame of mind, thinking, ‘Oh, I did not get it, why was it given to him? Samson also spoke about the chatter on social media, where a number of former Indian cricketers have opined on the competition for the opening spot. Some suggest that Sooryavanshi deserves to play over Samson in the team, while others believe Abhishek should make way for the teenage batter. “I try to switch the Wi-Fi off. But sometimes the Wi-Fi gets switched on, and comments become visible. So I think it is very normal. “I think I have been mature enough and experienced enough to know how to handle it. I am not a machine. We are not robots, that we can say, ‘No, it does not affect me.
Earlier, it used to hurt a little.
