Sanju Samson has emerged as a leading candidate to take over the India captaincy in the shortest format within the next two to three years, according to former head coach Ravi Shastri.
This comes in the wake of India's triumphant ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign on home soil two months ago, where Suryakumar Yadav guided the team to glory as captain. The 31-year-old Samson was named Player of the Tournament for his match-defining performances, including three successive half-centuries that helped India through key knockout stages.
Shastri believes the leadership baton may need to be passed on by the time the next T20 World Cup arrives in 2028, when Suryakumar will be 37.
"India, come the next (T20) World Cup (in 2028), might be looking for a new
captain, depending on how Surya goes over the next couple of years," Shastri was quoted as saying by 'The ICC Review'.
"But Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role because he's done that in the past for Rajasthan (Royals).
"And he's a certainty in the side, at the top of the order, extremely destructive. So I see him, this is just the start of something more you'll see from Sanju over the next two or three years," said the former India all-rounder.
Samson brings proven leadership experience, having captained Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for five seasons - most notably in 2022 when the franchise reached the final. His recent form has been exceptional, building on a breakout T20 World Cup where he nearly single-handedly powered India through high-stakes matches like the quarter-final against West Indies, the Super 8 stage, semi-final, and final.
"But my word this season, the way he's played after his performance in the T20 World Cup where single-handedly he almost won India games, the big games, the quarter-finals (West Indies, Super 8), semi-finals, the final, and the way he stepped up and the maturity he's showing now in the IPL, makes him a clear case as far as I'm concerned for leadership in the future. "
"I think he (Samson) has put a lid on all those question marks. There was always ability. People would, in fact, be disappointed because he wouldn't do justice to that ability," he concluded.
With his destructive batting at the top of the order and growing stature, Samson appears well-positioned to step into a bigger leadership role for India in the white-ball format.
