Former India batter Robin Uthappa believes India’s upcoming T20I series against South Africa presents a significant opportunity for wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson to solidify his position in the national side. Uthappa shared his thoughts on Star Sports, highlighting that Samson now has a defined role in the team under the leadership of coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, which he had struggled to find previously.

Speaking to JioCinema, Uthappa emphasised how Samson’s steady improvement and high-impact performances have earned him growing confidence from both Gambhir and Suryakumar, setting a strong foundation for his position in the T20I squad. This support from the team’s management, according to Uthappa, has given Samson the freedom to play his natural game without the fear of losing his spot due to a single poor performance. He praised Samson’s growth in finding consistency, which has been an area of improvement that fans and experts had long awaited to see from the 29-year-old.

“He has the confidence of the coaching staff and the leadership group, something he lacked in the past when you look at his international career. There was also a lack of clarity about where he would fit in…But with Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav, the narrative has been clear for him. There has been a lot of clarity about his role. They have defined the role very clearly for him. The pressure would be a little off in this series,” Uthappa said.

“He is someone who has tremendous potential and this series would help him consolidate his position in the squad,” Uthappa added.

The four-match series, beginning November 8 in Durban, holds high expectations from fans as Samson, one of India’s standout T20I players, is set to be closely watched. With his recent explosive innings of 111 runs off 44 balls against Bangladesh in the T20I series, Samson has shown his capability as a powerful and reliable asset to the batting lineup. His performance has elevated him to the top choice for the wicketkeeper-batter slot in the South Africa series, a role that could have gone to Jitesh Sharma but now seems firmly in Samson’s grasp.

Having struggled to secure a regular place for a major part of his career, Samson now appears poised to establish himself as a critical player for India’s T20I ambitions. Uthappa’s remarks underline that Samson’s ability to perform under pressure and his defined role in the team could be the key factors in his success against South Africa. For Samson, this series could not only strengthen his role as India’s go-to wicketkeeper-batter but also help build momentum for India’s future T20I competitions as he continues to flourish under the guidance of Gambhir and Suryakumar.