Former India batsman Robin Uthappa believes India’s upcoming T20I series against South Africa presents a major opportunity for wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson to solidify his position in the national team. Uthappa shared his thoughts on Star Sports and highlighted that Samson now has a defined role in the team under the leadership of coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, which he had struggled to find earlier.

Speaking to JioCinema, Uthappa emphasized how Samson’s constant improvement and high-impact performances have earned him increasing trust from both Gambhir and Suryakumar, laying a solid foundation for his position in the T20I team. This support from the team management, according to Uthappa, has given Samson the freedom to play his natural game without fear of losing his place due to poor performance. He praised Samson’s growth in pursuit of consistency, which has been an area of ​​improvement that fans and pundits have long hoped to see from the 29-year-old.

“He has the confidence of the coaching staff and the management group, something that was missing in the past when you look at his international career. There was also a lack of clarity about where he would fit in… But with Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav, the narrative has been clear for him. There has been a lot of clarity about his role. They have defined the role very clearly for him, the pressure would be a little off in this series,” Uthappa said.

“He is someone who has tremendous potential and this series would help him cement his position in the team,” Uthappa added.

The four-match series, which begins on November 8 in Durban, has high expectations from fans as Samson, one of India’s leading T20I players, will be closely watched. With his recent explosive innings of 111 runs off 44 balls against Bangladesh in the T20I series, Samson has proven his ability as a powerful and reliable asset to the batting line-up. His performance has elevated him to first choice for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s job in the South Africa series, a role that could have gone to Jitesh Sharma but now looks firmly in Samson’s hands.

Having struggled to secure a stable spot for most of his career, Samson now looks set to establish himself as a pivotal player for India’s T20I ambitions. Uthappa’s comments underline that Samson’s ability to perform under pressure and his defined role in the team could be the key factors in his success against South Africa. For Samson, this series could not only strengthen his role as India’s go-to wicketkeeper-batsman but could also help build momentum for India’s future T20I competitions as he continues to thrive under the guidance of Gambhir and Suryakumar.