After T20I hundred, Sanju Samson wants to play Test cricket for India

India wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, after scoring a century in the third T20I against Bangladesh, has expressed his strong desire to play Test cricket for India, aiming to establish himself as an all-format player.

In Short

• Sanju Samson has expressed his strong desire to play Test cricket for India
• Samson has scored 3,819 runs in 64 first-class matches at an average of 38.96
• Samson credits Rahul Dravid and Zubin Bharucha for his improved preparation

After scoring a century in the third T20I against Bangladesh, Sanju Samson has expressed his strong desire to play Test cricket for India, aiming to establish himself as an all-format player. The Kerala-born wicketkeeper-batter, who made his T20I debut in 2015 and ODI debut in 2021, has often been viewed as a backup option in the national team due to inconsistent performances.

"I believe I have the skill-set to succeed in red-ball cricket and I just don't want to be restricted to just white-ball cricket. I desire to play Tests for India. Before the Duleep Trophy, the leadership group told me that they were considering me for red-ball cricket and asked me to take it seriously and play more Ranji Trophy matches," Samson said in an interaction with the media here on Tuesday.

However, following his recent century, Samson is confident in his ability to succeed in red-ball cricket and revealed that the Indian team management has asked him to focus on first-class cricket, indicating his potential inclusion in the Test setup.

"My preparation was good this time around. After the series against Sri Lanka, I trained at the RR Academy with Rahul Dravid sir and Zubin Bharucha worked on my game. The century in the Duleep Trophy has given me a lot of confidence as it came against some of the best bowlers in the country,'' Samson added.

Samson, who has played 64 first-class matches and scored 3,819 runs at an average of 38.96, will return to action in Kerala's Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka on October 18. Reflecting on his journey, Samson credited his improved preparation and training at the RR Academy under Rahul Dravid and Zubin Bharucha for his recent success.

"Suryakumar (Yadav) is a good communicator and there is clarity in what he wants from the players. He is a good leader and players trust him. Gautam (Gambhir) bhai has always supported and backed me. When you have someone as a coach who believes in your ability, playing cricket becomes more enjoyable,'' said Samson.

Samson highlighted the importance of clarity in his role, particularly after being informed three weeks in advance that he would open in the T20I series against Bangladesh. Reflecting on his aggressive batting, including hitting five sixes in one over, Samson said he believes in playing fearless cricket and is proud of his performance.

"Normally when you play for India you are not sure of your role. But this time, I was told three weeks in advance that I would be playing as an opener against Bangladesh. I was mentally prepared for the new role," said Samson.