Wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson finally got the nod in the playing XI as India take on Sri Lanka for the third T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday, 10 January.
However, he failed to make it a memorable comeback as he was dismissed off the very second delivery. Having launched the first ball he faced off Lakshan Sandakan for a six, Samson headed back after being trapped in front in the next over — his second of the innings. It also halted India’s flying start to the match as Sri Lanka picked up another couple of wickets to leave India at 123/4 at the end of 13 overs after they were 92/0 at the end of 10 overs.
Samson, who has played just one T20 international so far, replaced Pant in the line-up. Samson had a good run in the domestic tournaments of late, scoring 410 runs in eight matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including an unbeaten 212 against Goa.
In red-ball cricket as well, Samson had made his mark. In just two Ranji Trophy games, Samson scored 217 runs at an average of 54.25.
Samson’s return to the side comes after four years he had made his debut. He had last represented India back in 2015 in a T20I against Zimbabwe. Owing to his form, Samson had earned call-ups to the Indian T20I squad against Bangladesh and West Indies albeit failed to get a game. He was also in the side for the first two matches but wasn’t included in the side.
The 73 T20Is missed between his two matches is the highest for any Indian cricketer.
Umesh Yadav held the dubious record until now with the Indian pacer missing 65 matches between his two appearances between 2012 and 2018. Overall though, Joe Denly holds the record for the most T20Is missed between two games. The English cricketer had missed 79 matches between 2010 and 2018.
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