Sanju Samson managed 46 runs in IND vs NZ T20I series at 9.20 average.
Sanju Samson’s hopes for the T20 World Cup 2026 took another hit on Saturday night after the wicketkeeper-batter faltered once again. This time, at his home ground in Thiruvananthapuram during the fifth T20I against New Zealand.
Samson managed only a run-a-ball six, adding to a troubling series of low scores. While India dominated the Kiwis with strong batting, winning three of the first four games, the ongoing struggles of the opener were hard to miss.
In this series, the right-handed batter has scored just 46 runs in five matches at 9.20 average and a strike rate of 135.29, despite getting his preferred role at the top. Even more concerning are his overall numbers.
Since 2025, Sanju Samson has struck 222 runs in 15 matches at 20.18 average and a modest 126.85 strike rate, including just one fifty, that too against minnows Oman. Post Asia Cup 2025, the 31-year-old has managed 85 runs in seven innings at an average of 12.14, striking at 141.66. He scored a 25-run mark only once in those innings.
Sanju Samson’s problems arise at a crucial time. Ishan Kishan, returning to the India squad after more than a year, has delivered explosive performances since fortunately finding a place in the India playing XI in the absence of Tilak Varma. This significantly bolsters his case for selection. And with Tilak Varma set to return at No.3 for the T20 World Cup 2026, India may be tempted to pick Ishan Kishan in the playing XI over Sanju Samson, and momentum is clearly with Ishan.
Before the fourth T20I, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak publicly supported Sanju Samson, highlighting the need for patience.
“Sanju is the senior player; he is very good… sometimes you have a little dry period,” Kotak said, suggesting that management still sees Samson as their first-choice keeper.
However, his recent performances have increased the scrutiny. Though a victim of constant change in roles in the past, moving down the order to make room for Shubman Gill and then returning as an opener, Samson now faces intense criticism for his shortcomings against pace with the new ball.
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Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his thoughts clearly after Sanju Samson’s dismissal in IND vs NZ 5th T20I.
“Handling pressure is a hugely underrated attribute,” Ashwin wrote on his X handle.
The comment quickly gained traction from social media users. Many see Samson’s repeated failures in critical moments as a significant concern as the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches. Notably, the ICC event will kick off on February 7.
Here are some of the posts on the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).
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