Team India’s wicketkeeper-batter, Sanju Samson, is set to be sidelined for over a month after sustaining a fractured finger during the fifth T20I against England in Mumbai. The injury occurred when he was hit by a delivery from Jofra Archer on his index finger while batting at the Wankhede Stadium.
Reports indicate that the 30-year-old has returned to Thiruvananthapuram and will undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before receiving clearance to resume competitive action. It is unlikely that Samson will be able to participate in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals for Kerala against Jammu and Kashmir in Pune from February 8-12.
A BCCI source mentioned, “Samson has fractured his right index finger. It will take him five to six weeks before he can resume proper nets. So there is no chance of him playing the Ranji Trophy quarter-final for Kerala (vs J&K) in Pune from February 8-12.”
Despite this setback, Samson is expected to return to action during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) where he captains the Rajasthan Royals. His presence will be crucial for the franchise as they aim to secure their first title since the inaugural edition.
In the recent T20I series against England, Samson struggled to make an impact, scoring only 51 runs with a highest score of 26 at an average of 10.20. His innings in the final match saw him score 16 runs before being dismissed by Mark Wood in the second over. The injury also prevented him from keeping wickets as Dhruv Jurel took over the gloves.
Despite Samson’s absence behind the stumps, Team India convincingly defeated England by 150 runs in the final T20I, thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s brilliant 135. The two teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting on Thursday, February 6, in Nagpur.
Edited by Ankush Das.
