I don't consider myself competing with Rishabh Pant, want to play alongside him: Sanju Samson

Over the past few years, many cricket experts have seen Sanju Samson and praised his skills. However, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman hasn’t yet made it big at the international level. For the longest part of his cricket career, Samson didn’t get a proper opportunity like many other wicketkeepers in the country.

Since MS Dhoni decided to take a break from international cricket, many people have cited Rishabh Pant as his replacement. But some have also argued that Samson would make a great fit as well.

However, it seems that Samson himself isn’t concerned about the competition with Rishabh Pant. In an interview, he has admitted that he never thinks of competing with a fellow cricketer. Samson was given an opportunity to play ahead of Rishabh Pant during the T20 series in New Zealand but failed to make a good contribution with the bat.

I like to think about me and Pant playing together: Sanju Samson

“I think it all depends on the team combination. I never thought about all these lines (competition with Rishabh Pant). As a cricketer when you’re competing or when you’re trying to get into a sport if you have an eye on other players – I don’t think that’s the way to play your cricket,” Samson told The Times of India.

Samson during the interview said that he sees himself playing with Pant in the side more than competing for a spot. He revealed that the two have some really good fun when they play together. Samson also explained that their natural instinct is to attack and dominate bowlers.

“Whenever people talk to me about my competition with Pant, I like to think about me and him playing together. Not just play, we also have a lot of fun together. I think it will be a really good thing – we are known to dominate bowlers and we have done it in the past as well. So, I always look forward to playing with Pant. I don’t consider myself competing with him,” he added.

Pant and Samson had played for Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) together in the 2016 and 2017 seasons of the IPL. The two had a great partnership in a match against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions. The duo put on a partnership of 143 in 63 balls. It was one of the best displays of power-hitting at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.