Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has hailed Sanju Samson after the Super 8 clash against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. In the run-chase of 196, Samson scored a match-winning knock of 97 runs off just 50 balls. 

The right-hander scored 12 fours and four sixes in his blistering knock as he scored his runs at an impressive strike rate of 194. Clarke recalled there was talk about Sanju Samson not even being in the squad for the World Cup.

Samson could only manage 46 runs in five T20Is against New Zealand and thus did not get his chance in the playing XI as Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan were preferred ahead of him.

Michael Clarke said on Beyond23 Cricket podcast, “The one player for me that the entire tournament has gone under the radar. There was talk about him not even being in the squad, then he got selected, and then there was talk about who plays out of Sanju Samson, who I’m talking about, or Ishan Kishan. Ishan Kishan gets the nod and has an absolute cracker of a start to this tournament. Sanju Samson is probably sitting there thinking, ‘I’m not going to get an opportunity. I’m not going to get a game.’

“What about his innings? 97 from 50 balls, opens the batting. You talk about handling pressure moments; he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. So, he’s definitely my player in the last couple of games to go under the radar. And again, I think without that innings, India don’t chase those runs. So, I think he should be super proud. He’s been given a crack; firstly, I’ve always thought he’s underrated. Certainly, playing in the shorter formats, certainly playing in Indian conditions.

He concluded, “I think he’s built for stand and deliver. He’s got power. He’s got all the shots. At the top of the order, he maximizes the powerplay. He’s definitely my player that’s gone under the radar in the last few games. So, well done to him.”

India will take on England in the second semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday.