Sanju Samson has given Team India a massive injury scare as the star wicketkeeper-batter suffered a fracture to his index finger after being struck by a fierce delivery from Jofra Archer during the fifth T20I against England at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on February 2, Sunday. Reportedly Sanju Samson is set to sideline him for more than a month. Samson’s injury came right ahead of India’s ODI series against England and upcoming Champions Trophy. However, Samson isn’t selected for either of the outing as he was only part of T20I series against England. However, the injury has surely forced him out of the crucial Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.
Sanju Samson gives India big injury scare, fractures index finger
Samson has returned to his hometown of Thiruvananthapuram and will begin training only after completing his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCAHis return to competitive cricket is contingent on receiving clearance from the NCA, which only tells the severity of the injury and the cautious approach being taken to his recovery.
“Samson has fractured his right index finger. It will take him five to six weeks before he can resume proper nets. So there is no chance of him playing the Ranji Trophy quarter-final for Kerala (vs J&K) in Pune from February 8-12. In all likelihood, his comeback will happen in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals,” a BCCI source told PTI.
Sanju Samson’s recent form has been a mixed bag. While he had a disappointing T20I series against England and is not currently part of the ODI setup, he suffered a further setback when he was struck on the finger by a near 150kph delivery from Jofra Archer in the fifth T20I.
Although Samson managed to hit a six and a four after the blow, the swelling on his finger increased once he returned to the dugout. Subsequent scans revealed a fracture, compounding his recent struggles.
Samson’s inclusion in the T20I series came after a sensational run against Bangladesh and South Africa, where he smashed three centuries in seven games. However, his absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier in the selection cycle cost him a place in the Champions Trophy squad.
The England series proved to be a disappointing one for the usually flamboyant Sanju Samson, captain of the Rajasthan Royals. He struggled to make an impact, scoring just 51 runs across five matches, with his highest score being a modest 26 in the opening game at Eden Gardens. Throughout the series, Samson appeared struggling against the short-pitched bowling of Archer, Mark Wood, and Saqib Mahmood. He frequently fell victim to their pace and bounce, often losing his wicket within the Powerplay overs.
With India’s next white-ball assignments not scheduled until the end of July, following the Champions Trophy, the 30-year-old Samson faces a considerable wait for his next opportunity to represent his country. It is expected that Samson will make his return before the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 where he will be seen leading Rajasthan Royal (RR). Notably IPL 2025 is set to get underway from March 21.