Sanju Samson should consistently play for India in white-ball cricket: Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the Indian opening batter Sanju Samson to play both the white-ball formats for the Men In Blue after his swashbuckling unbeaten 97-run knock against the West Indies in the virtual quarter-final at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, March 1.

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Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Kolkata, Ganguly heaped praise on the keeper-batter from Kerala, stating that when he gets settled at the crease, he will hurt any opposition on any given day.

"He's a very good player. He should consistently play for India in white-ball cricket, 100 per cent. It was a virtual quarterfinal, and to be 97 not out shows his quality. He's that sort of a player... when he gets in, he will hurt the opposition,” Sourav Ganguly said on the sidelines of the CII West Bengal's Annual Meeting & Conference in Kolkata.

"He played to the situation, and that was important. What it teaches all of us is that the same boy who, in the last six months, could not find his place in the team - whether it was Ishan Kishan opening or somebody else coming in,” he added.

"Just before the World Cup, I used to read headlines saying 'Sanju fails again', 'he should not deserve a place', 'India has so much talent, why is Shubman Gill not in the side?' - and yet here is a boy in a quarterfinal game, gets 97 not out and takes you to the semifinal," Ganguly stated.

Additionally, Dada also reckoned that England would be a bigger and stronger opposition when compared to the West Indies, adding that the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, should continue their winning momentum.

"England will be a stronger opposition than the West Indies. They have to play just like they won yesterday," he concluded.

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India will lock horns with England in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5.

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