Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India’s final stop before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup took them to Thiruvananthapuram, and the arrival itself turned into a moment to watch as captain Suryakumar Yadav ensured hometown hero Sanju Samson had all eyes on him. With the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand being a dead rubber, the spotlight has firmly shifted to Samson — both for emotional reasons and selection stakes.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Samson, a crowd favourite in Kerala, is going through a lean patch. His last T20 fifty came against Oman in the Asia Cup in September, and four low scores in the ongoing series have put his World Cup role under scrutiny. While he remains part of the squad, Ishan Kishan’s presence as a competing wicketkeeper-batter has tightened the race for a spot in the playing XI.
As the Indian team landed in Thiruvananthapuram, Suryakumar was in a playful mood, theatrically clearing the way for Samson at the airport. “Get out of the way. Move aside. Make way, please. Don’t disturb Chetta,” Surya said, mimicking a VIP arrival as a shy and slightly embarrassed Samson tried to hide his laughter.The banter continued. “No, no, no photos,” Surya joked before turning to Samson and adding, “Landing in God’s own country.”“Feeling great. Always feels great, but this time it is very special,” Samson replied.“Extra special?” Surya asked.“Yes,” came the answer, as the act continued right until the exit gates.WATCH: Surya’s banter with SanjuOnce outside, the scene turned electric. A sea of fans erupted as Samson stepped out, the cheers following him all the way to the team bus, underlining his superstar status in Kerala.With India set to open their World Cup campaign against the USA soon, the team management may see this as the perfect, low-pressure opportunity to let Samson rediscover his rhythm — buoyed by home support.
