Sanju Samson lights up Brian Lara Stadium to edge past Suryakumar Yadav in World Cup 2023 race

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Opportunities do matter, not just in cricket but in every walk of life. A talent without opportunity is a talent wasted. A talent backed can do wonders. Sanju Samson proved it in the third ODI against West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Having failed to score on a difficult Barbados batting surface in the second ODI where the Indian team got bundled out for 181, Samson made the most of the opportunity given in the final ODI by blasting 51 runs off 41 balls.

The likes of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya scored more than Samson in the match but a closer look would explain why his innings carried an equal weight.

The run-scoring slowed down after Ishan Kishan (77 off 64) was dismissed in the 20th over of the match. Ruturaj Gaikwad walked in at three and could manage just eight off 14 balls. The partnership between Gill and Gaikwad accounted for 11 runs off 20 balls.

There was responsibility at hand and pressure on the shoulders of Samson who is literally auditioning for the upcoming World Cup 2023 just two months before the start of the ICC marquee event. Samson is part of the India squad for the following eight T20I matches, however, there wasn't any guarantee of another ODI match when he walked in the middle.

But a fearless Samson unleashed an attack which took the West Indies by surprise. Each and every loose delivery was dealt with utmost severity. Gill, India's most promising prospect for the future, faded away in the presence of the 28-year-old.

The duo forged a 69-run partnership off 53 balls for the third wicket. Samson scored 51 off those runs in 41 balls. The innings kept the momentum going for the Men in Blue. It was Samson's innings which allowed captain Hardik Pandya to take time for settling in before going berserk in the final overs.

Samson's innings also reduced pressure on Suryakumar Yadav, his number one competitor at the moment for the middle-order spot in the World Cup 2023.

Hardik, Shubman and Suryakumar are all powerful hitters but each one of them endured a slow start. While Suryakumar (35 off 30) was at one stage batting on 26 off 25 balls, Hardik scored his first 12 runs off 24 balls. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain was a difference between the par 300-run total and the above-par 351 which India posed to win the match by 200 runs.

Samson standing tall uncertain of his place in a home World Cup was extremely impressive. The Indian team management including captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, and the BCCI selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar by no means can ignore Samson now.

Suryakumar Yadav has now gone 18 innings without an ODI fifty. After batting at three in the first ODI, he was demoted in the lower middle-order for the next two ODIs. He did nothing exceptional in that position as well.

Even in case KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer make a timely and a successful return from injury, Samson has sent a timely reminder to the selectors that he is good enough to feature in the 15-member squad.

Samson's performances in the T20I series against West Indies and Ireland is going to be closely monitored, Samson has passed the first test but his spot is still not confirmed and more timely reminders would just be great for his cause to play his first World Cup since India debut in 2015.