Former India wicket-keeper Saba Karim is backing Sanju Samson to come good in the remaining matches of the England series. He is confident that the opener will play a big knock after a failure in the first T20I against the English team. The right-handed batter scored 1 run off 7 balls as India reached 189 for 7 after deciding to bat first on July 1.

Karim highlighted that Samson has been through lean phases in his career so far and expressed hope that the right-handed batter would return to form soon.

“He was dismissed after facing seven balls. Samson didn’t settle down, and he was found wanting on every delivery. He has been part of such phases in the past as well. His wicket falls in the first 10 balls. If he passes that phase, he plays a big knock. Sanju was unable to deal with the line and length of the England bowlers. He was not given the room to play shots,” Saba Karim said.

“He likes to hit the bowlers over the infield. The England fast bowlers didn’t allow him to free his hands, and that’s why he was under pressure. Samson is not new to this situation. However, I expect him to come out of the tough phase and score runs in the remaining matches,” he added.

In the last three T20Is, he has scored just 6 runs. He managed 5 runs in the first T20I against Ireland and was dismissed for a duck in the second game.

Bowlers are bowling according to a plan against Sanju Samson, says Irfan Pathan

Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan opined on Sanju Samson’s weakness after his below-par display against England.

“As a bowler, you want to take the ball away or keep it outside the off stump while bowling to Samson because he closes the face of his bat. That’s why he is getting out in the slips and behind square. England had a plan for him. The fielder was stationed, and the bowler bowled a slightly shorter length, and it was enough to take Samson’s wicket,” Irfan Pathan said.

India were 6 for 2 at one stage, with Ishan Kishan and Samson not scoring runs. Abhishek Sharma (59 off 24), Shreyas Iyer (68 off 47) and Shivam Dube ( 42* off 21) took the visitors out of trouble.