10 (7), 6 (5), 0 (1), 24 (15), and 6 (6) – that’s how Sanju Samson has performed in the India vs New Zealand T20I series. The 5-match affair was expected to be the perfect warm-up for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Batters needed to get a couple of good scores, and bowlers were rotated and put themselves in tough situations. That’s what India needed to do. The Men in Blue accomplished that for the most part. Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh fired at various points. Jasprit Bumrah looked sharp. But Samson’s bat remained silent.
Ishan Kishan stamps his authority
The wicketkeeper was brought up as India’s second opener after Shubman Gill was dropped. It was the perfect time for Samson to perform and seal that spot for the T20 World Cup. But he did anything but. Kishan, who was playing for India after 786 days, stamped his authority in Tilak Varma’s absence.
He was picked as India’s backup keeper but gave Samson a run for his money. The batter from Kerala scored 46 runs in 5 innings, and Kishan smashed a 36-ball 76 in the Raipur game itself. He was head and shoulders above Samson. In the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I, Kishan smashed a 28-ball fifty, smashing his second half-century in 4 innings.
Kishan showed intent in the powerplay and murdered spinners in the middle overs. In the 12th over, the southpaw smashed Ish Sodhi for 6 boundaries (2 sixes and 4 fours). Taking him to 75 from just 33 balls. It was spin hitting of the highest quality. Of course, Kishan didn’t just stop there.
He went all the way. The southpaw registered his maiden T20I hundred from just 42 deliveries. Glenn Phillips granted him a reprieve on 90, but that’s how it goes. Amidst his golden period, luck has been on his side. But he deserves it all. If anyone had doubts over him playing over Samson, they ended just there.
Technical weakness?
For whatever reason, Samson didn’t have any confidence. He continued to shuffle backwards and played everything off his back foot, even against. Despite failures, he persisted with the approach. And again, registered a single-digit score in the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I. Playing his first international match at home, Samson failed to give the management a reason to back him.
Kyle Jamieson troubled him in the 2nd over, and he escaped with a lucky edge flying to the right of New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Siefert. In the next over, Lockie Ferguson troubled him before getting him caught at deep backward point, with Bevon Jacobs claiming a good catch.
Sanju Samson sinks under pressure
Soon after his dismissal, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opined about Samson’s knock. In Ashwin’s opinion, his former Rajasthan Royals teammate has buckled under pressure. With the sword hanging over his head regarding the opener spot for the T20 World Cup, Samson failed to perform as expected.
Yuzvendra Chahal had stated the same after Samson failed in the last match. It’s clear that Kishan, who should be equally if not more nervous, has thrived under pressure. Whereas Samson has done the opposite. Now, all he can hope for is that Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir back him for India’s T20 World Cup opener against the USA on February 7.
Cricket
Sanju Samson buckles under pressure, Ishan Kishan virtually seals T20 World Cup spot with maiden hundred
