'They are pre-paid sim cards, they have to perform consistently' - Pragyan Ojha on performance of youngsters

Giving an interesting analogy to explain why youngsters like Sanju Samson need to perform consistently to secure a place in the senior India national team, former India spinner Pragyan Ojha compared him with pre-paid sim card. Ojha’s comments came after Sanju Samson began his Indian Premier League (IPL) captaincy stint with Rajasthan Royals with a sensational century and became the first player to register a century on IPL captaincy debut.

Meanwhile, in interaction with Sports Today after Rajasthan Royals’ 3-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in Mumbai in their IPL 2021 encounter on Thursday, Pragyan Ojha said that Sanju Samson is undoubtedly a great talent but it is important for youngsters and players like him to be consistent to rise above the competition and seal a permanent spot in the Indian team.

Samson, who made his India debut as early as 2015, was given the role of the Royals leader in the build-up to IPL 2021 after the franchise let go of Australia star, Steve Smith. Samson has not managed to find a permanent spot in the Indian team but there is no doubting his talent.

He smacked a brilliant 119 off only 63 deliveries during a chase of 222 against Punjab Kings in their tournament opener, however, he could not take his team across the line as they fell just four runs short of the target. Needing five runs off the last two balls, Samson even denied a single and backed himself to hit a boundary on the final delivery, but was dismissed instead.

In the second game, he was dismissed cheaply, although the Royals sealed a 3-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in a low-scoring thriller in Mumbai.

A few youngsters are like pre-paid sim cards: Pragyan Ojha

“When you talk about Sanju Samson, there is one thing. When he came into this side, there was no Rishabh Pant, there was no Ishan Kishan,” Ojha told Sports Today.

“In this present Indian team, consider this interesting story Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are like post-paid sim cards. They can push themselves for a bit more time without paying the bills.

“But quite a few youngsters are like pre-paid sim cards. It has to be renewed in the given time otherwise the sim is dead. All these youngsters should understand they are not post-paid sim cards. They are pre-paid sim cards, to become postpaid, they have to perform consistently,” he added.