New Delhi: Indian men’s cricket team opener Sanju Samson received a vote of confidence on Tuesday from bowling coach Morne Morkel, who expressed belief that the Kerala batsman is “just one knock away” from ending his lean run.
Samson has struggled in the first three T20Is against New Zealand, scoring a total of 16 runs with a highest score of 10, while fellow top-order batsmen Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav have been performing strongly.
“Sanju is one knock away from getting that confidence and finding his form again. As we build up to the World Cup, it’s crucial for players to peak at the right time. He’s training well and hitting the ball very well,” Morkel said ahead of the fourth T20I.
Despite the practice session being optional, Samson spent over 30 minutes in the nets, facing bowlers including Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma, and side-armer Raghu. After initial difficulties, he gradually found his rhythm, sending the ball to all corners of the ACA-VDCA Stadium.
Following the session, Samson had an extended discussion with head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, while Shreyas Iyer continued his own practice.
Morkel emphasised that the team’s victories take priority over individual performances. “It’s just a matter of time before he gets his foot on the board. The main focus is that the team is winning, and that’s important. We’re 3-0 up in this series, and the boys are playing very good cricket,” he said.
Looking ahead, the South African coach remained confident about Samson’s prospects. “We’ve got a couple of games now before the World Cup, and I have no doubt that Sanju will find his form.”
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