Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has thrown his weight behind Sanju Samson ahead of Chennai Super Kings’ high-profile IPL clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, saying he has a gut feeling the wicketkeeper-batter will come good in Bengaluru after a quiet start to his CSK career.
Samson has managed just 13 runs across two innings since joining CSK, failing to make the most of batting-friendly conditions. But Pathan believes the bigger picture matters more and that Chennai’s management signed Samson with a very specific plan in mind.
“Chennai have brought in Sanju Samson as a potential face of the team after MS Dhoni. He hasn’t scored runs in the first two matches, even on a pitch where batting has improved,” Pathan said.
With the next fixture at Bengaluru, Pathan sees it as the perfect stage for Samson to announce himself. “The next match is in Bengaluru and I expect Sanju Samson to score runs there. If that happens, then Chennai’s thinking of making him the face of the team after MS Dhoni could start taking shape.”
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He left little doubt about his conviction: “I have a gut feeling that Sanju will score in this match.”
On the other side of the contest, Pathan was equally effusive about Virat Kohli, who has come out of the blocks firing for RCB. The former all-rounder pointed to Kohli’s explosive strike rate, sharp running between the wickets, and relentless energy in the field as proof that the 37-year-old continues to defy age.
“The way he scored runs in the first match at a strike rate of 182, he doesn’t look like a 37-year-old at all. He is extremely agile in the field and with his running between the wickets, you might get tired, but he will not,” Pathan said. Pathan framed the contest as a potential duel between two of Indian cricket’s most celebrated names and suggested that if Samson rises to the occasion for CSK, Kohli will respond in kind for RCB.