IPL 2022: Sanju Samson should have played more matches for India – Shoaib Akhtar feels RR captain has been unlucky

Former Pakistan gun fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar reckons Sanju Samson should have played more matches for India and feels the flamboyant batter hasn’t had the rub of the green on his side.

Samson has got limited opportunities for the national team but he hasn’t been able to grab them thus far.

The Kerala batter has played 13 T20Is for the Indian team in which he has scored 174 runs at a meager average of 14.5. Furthermore, he has only played a solitary ODI game for the national team. In fact, Samson was told by the team management to play aggressively in the T20Is against Australia back in the 2020-21 series.

However, he couldn’t get going and was dismissed cheaply. Meanwhile, Samson has played some breathtaking knocks in the IPL and he is always a treat to the eyes when he gets going.

Samson is a sweet timer of the ball and he can hit the ground running. The right-hander is known to time the ball to perfection and it is difficult for the bowlers to put a lid on the scoring rate when he gets going. Samson has got all the talent and it is time he makes the most of it at the International level.

Shoaib Akhtar said while talking to Sportskeeda, “Sanju Samson should have played more matches for India. I think he is one of the finest players. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to seal his place in the Indian team. But he is a great talent.”

On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Express also lauded Jos Buttler for his pyrotechnics. Akhtar feels Buttler doesn’t get the credit he deserves as he has done a fine job for England. Buttler had scored the first hundred of IPL 2022 as he scored a fine knock against Mumbai Indians.

“If England had promoted Jos Buttler instead of Ben Stokes, he would have been a superstar of England. Buttler is a big magician. He can score on poor wickets, and on good surfaces, he destroys bowlers. He is a massive talent. Jos Buttler has not got the credit that he deserves. He is one of the most perfect players, one of the most lethal forces to reckon with right now. I don’t think his talent has been recognized yet.”

RR has got off to a fine start as they have both of their matches and they will face RCB on Tuesday.