Dubai: Former head coach Ravi Shastri says that star player Sanju Samson, who played an important role in India winning the T20 World Cup title, will be a strong contender for the captaincy of the national team in the shortest format of cricket in the next two-three years. The Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title on home soil two months ago in which 31-year-old Samson was named the ‘Player of the Tournament’. Shastri said that by the time the next T20 World Cup comes in 2028, India may have to find a replacement for Suryakumar as the current captain will be 37 years old at that time.

According to ‘The ICC Review’, Shastri said, “By the time the next T20 World Cup is played in 2028, India may be looking for a new captain. It will depend on how Suryakumar performs in the next few years. “But Sanju Samson has presented himself as a strong contender for the captaincy role as he has played this role for Rajasthan Royals in the past,” said the former India all-rounder.

Samson has captained Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for five years, including the 2022 season in which the team finished runners-up. Samson is in the best form of his career in international cricket. The 31-year-old player had scored three consecutive half-centuries during India’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Shastri said, “But the kind of game he has shown this season has been fantastic.” Especially in the T20 World Cup, he single-handedly made India win many big matches like quarter-finals (West Indies, Super Eight), semi-finals and finals. Looking at the way he has handled the responsibility and the maturity he is now displaying in the IPL, in my view he is a very strong and clear contender for captaincy in the future.

Shastri also said that questions raised regarding Samson’s continuity are now a thing of the past. “I think Samson has put all those questions to rest,” he said. He always had the ability, but people were disappointed because he could not do justice to his ability.