Six contenders; Sanju Samson in strong position for captaincy, another ICC award on the way for Malayali cricketer

MUMBAI: India’s triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup turned even more special for Malayalis as Sanju Samson was named the Player of the Tournament. The achievement brought double joy to cricket fans in Kerala, celebrating both the national title and the success of their hometown star. The affection Malayalis have for Sanju was clearly visible after the tournament. When he arrived in his hometown, Thiruvananthapuram, a huge crowd gathered at the airport to welcome him with great enthusiasm.

Next Indian captain? There are reports that current T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to continue in the role after the World Cup. Even though he holds the record of not losing a series as captain, he is nearing 36 years of age. Reports say the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started looking for his successor.

Suryakumar, who was once the world’s No.1 T20 batter, is also not in the same form he enjoyed earlier. With the next ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 in mind, many believe a new captain should be appointed to build the team.

Looking at the current situation, several factors favour Sanju Samson. Since the next World Cup will be in the ODI format, senior players are expected to focus more on the ODI World Cup preparations. Players being considered for the T20 captaincy include Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shubman Gill.

Axar Patel is a spin-bowling all-rounder, and he may not be part of the playing eleven in every match outside India. Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer have had injury issues, and they may be rested from T20s to focus on ODI cricket ahead of the World Cup. A similar situation applies to Jasprit Bumrah as well.

Shubman Gill, who currently leads India in ODIs and Tests, is another option. However, some believe his batting style is not perfectly suited for T20 cricket, and he is not always a regular in the T20 side. This increases Sanju Samson’s chances. Sanju’s regular presence in the T20 team and the fact that he is not a member of the ODI squad are also factors working in his favour.

Sanju Samson also has leadership experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he led Rajasthan Royals for five seasons. During the T20 World Cup, Sanju was often seen talking directly with bowlers and helping set the field during matches. Because of this, it would not be surprising if he becomes the first Malayali captain of the Indian cricket team in T20 cricket.

Another ICC award likely Sanju Samson scored 321 runs in five matches in the T20 World Cup to win the Player of the Tournament award. He was also named Player of the Match against West Indies in the Super Eight stage and against England in the semi-final. In the final, he scored a half-century and finished as the team’s top scorer. Following this performance, Sanju Samson is also likely to be selected as ICC Men's Player of the Month.