"It seemed earlier that he was batting well but where were the runs" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Sanju Samson's form heading into IND vs ENG T20Is

Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded Sanju Samson for consistently playing substantial knocks in T20Is, which was his shortcoming earlier. He attributed the wicketkeeper-batter's recent success to greater self-confidence, more maturity, and the extra value he is attaching to his wicket.

India will clash with England in a five-match T20I series, with the first game to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. Samson will likely open for the Men in Blue in all five games.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues,' Manjrekar was asked whether greater self-confidence is behind Samson's recent success in T20Is.

"Self-confidence, slight maturity, and he is valuing his wicket a little more. He is playing long innings and not just one but repeatedly. Some people blossom a little late and Sanju Samson is like that," he responded.

"I am a big fan of him now. It seemed earlier that he was batting well but where were the runs. Now the batting is anyway mighty, even the runs are there," the former India batter added.

Samson has struck three centuries in his last five T20I innings. He scored a 47-ball 111 in the final T20I against Bangladesh in October last year and followed it up with a 50-ball 107 and an unbeaten 109 off 56 deliveries in the first and final T20Is against South Africa.

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"It's just that he has got the right opportunities and a good run of opportunities" - Sanjay Bangar on Sanju Samson's recent success

Sanju Samson has scored 366 runs at an average of 61.00 in his last seven T20Is. [P/C: Getty]

Speaking on 'Follow the Blues,' Sanjay Bangar noted that consistent opportunities have helped Sanju Samson's cause.

"Glad to see the kind of success that he has been blessed with currently. He has been there for a long time. It's just that he has got the right opportunities and a good run of opportunities because every batter, if he is playing three or four matches in a row, that frees him a little bit," he said.

The former India batting coach compared the Kerala batter's six-hitting ability to Yuvraj Singh's.

"Batting up the order, he doesn't really have to worry about the situation. The field is up and he is a six-hitter. He can hit sixes with ease. After Yuvraj Singh, if there is one batter who can do it with such ease on a consistent basis, it has to be Sanju Samson. So just to see him firing on all cylinders is a treat to watch," Bangar observed.

Samson has aggregated 810 runs at an average of 27.93 in 33 T20I innings. He has struck 46 sixes, including 27 maximums in his three centuries.