Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday backed Sanju Samson to feature consistently in India's white-ball squads and expressed surprise at the criticism about the swashbuckling keeper-batter in the run-up to the T20 World Cup. Samson smashed an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls -- his first fifty in 13 innings -- to anchor India's 196-run chase in what was a virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies here on Sunday.

Terming it an outstanding knock, Ganguly said: "He's a very good player. He should consistently play for India in white-ball cricket -- 100 per cent. "It was a virtual quarterfinal, and to be 97 not out shows his quality. He's that sort of a player... when he gets in, he will hurt the opposition."