'Make it count guy' - Twitter delighted after Sanju Samson's inclusion in first ODI against New Zealand

India's batting prodigy Sanju Samson finally gets to don the national colors after being named in the starting eleven for the ODI series opener against the Kiwis in Auckland. The talented wicketkeeper-batter was seen warming the benches in the recently concluded T20I series but has finally got a game for the Indian team, to the delight of the netizens.

Sanju Samson's last appearance for the Indian team came in the ODI series against South Africa in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in Australia. He showcased his exceptional batting prowess in the first ODI of that series but was reduced to the bench as the management went in favour of Shreyas Iyer in the recently concluded rain-hit T20I series.

The 28-year-old has been in and out of the national team frequently despite impressing in his handful of appearances. The swashbuckling batter has amassed 294 runs in just ten matches for the Indian team at an excellent average of 73.50. However, he has been found on the sidelines far too often according to the Indian cricket fans and was due to be called up to the starting eleven.

Apart from Samson, the team management handed debuts to two young impressive pace bowlers, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh. Both of them made their debuts in the shortest format of the game earlier this year, with the latter impressing in the recently concluded T20 World Cup and the T20I series against the Kiwis.

India (Playing XI) - Shubman Gill, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the inclusion of Sanju Samson in the starting eleven:

Me too @SDhawan25 when i see @IamSanjuSamson in playing11 #SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/ZaKqQR7dux

— jr.Parkar (@parkar_chinmay) November 25, 2022

Make it count Guy. We will back you as long as your bat backs you. Nothing else will hinder your progress, We guarantee you. Shear public pressure will always works in democracy.

— Vikrant S (@Vikrsntstar) November 25, 2022

Sanju Samson playing in 1st ODI . All the best #SanjuSamson 🙏🤞pic.twitter.com/uUrAfzoQGt

— Ashutosh Srivastava (@kingashu1008) November 25, 2022

Finally @IamSanjuSamson got chance#INDvsNZ first ODI

Live only on @PrimeVideoIN #India #SanjuSamson

— Darwin Robert 💙 (@darwinrobert_) November 25, 2022

finally Sanju Samson in the game.... hope he can make some impact 😌🫠🫠#SanjuSamson #INDvsNZ #IndianCricketTeam

— Karthik@07 (@KarthikRapelly) November 25, 2022

Finally Sanju Samson in squad🥹🤌

— 9th Hokage. (@Nicked_it99) November 25, 2022

#SanjuSamson is playing today. 🇮🇳❤

That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/MM6d3jX3Hz

— THE ROCKSTAR (@VivJonty) November 25, 2022

Nice to see Sanju Samson included in the team for the 1st one day match, at last he got chance to play.
Would love to see him getting more and more opportunity.
Best of luck to Sanju Samson.👍👍💐💐

— achyut banker (@AchyutBanker) November 25, 2022

Sanju Samson, the hightest Average among the batters in the Indian line up 🔥 #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/fcTNSHmSge

— 𝖇𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖚 🇦🇷 (@Brutu24) November 25, 2022