Former India spinner R Ashwin has voiced his concern about T20 star wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson’s recent form slump. Ashwin is worried about the batter failing again and again, and soon it might be “playing tricks” on him if he doesn’t find his way out of the current rut. Samson, who is currently nursing a fracture in his right index finger, struggled in the series against England, scoring only 51 runs across five matches that India won 4-1.
“If Sanju keeps getting dismissed like this, as a batter, the mind will be playing tricks,” Ashwin said. He also talked about the mental pressure players feel questioning whether the bowler’s strategy is at fault or if a shortcoming exists in their batting.
Sanju need to work on Sachin’s advice
Ashwin talked about how important it is to be mentally ready. He mentioned advice from Sachin Tendulkar during the recent BCCI Naman Awards. Tendulkar said practising repeatedly is important to train your subconscious mind well. Ashwin noted that if your subconscious mind is confused, it can make batting difficult, so it’s important to be clear and focused.
Ashwin noted that failures in T20 cricket are inevitable, but the nature of dismissals is what raises concern. “I will not focus on someone failing in T20 cricket but on how is he getting out,” Ashwin explained, suggesting that experienced players should analyse their decision-making to find solutions during the setbacks.
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Ashwin surprised with England
Ashwin was surprised by how aggressively England plays in cricket. He noticed that they lose more games than they win with this approach. He said, “…if I was England, I would be really worried,” because while their style can sometimes be successful, it often results in more losses. Ashwin’s comments show that being adaptable and mentally strong is important for doing well in cricket, especially in the shortest format of the game.
