Is the “Sanju Samson Dream” turning into a selection nightmare? Just days before India begins its T20 World Cup defense at home, one of the most talented batters in the country finds himself at a crossroads. Despite being named the first-choice wicketkeeper-opener in the initial squad, his recent form in the New Zealand series has left fans and experts questioning: Can India afford to take an out-of-form opener into a World Cup?
The Statistical Slump: A Cause for Alarm
While Samson showed a glimpse of his old self with a 15-ball 24 in Vizag yesterday, the overall numbers are hard to ignore. Since the New Zealand series began, his scores of 10, 6, 0, and 24 suggest a player struggling with rhythm rather than technique.
In the last 9 innings where he has opened for India, Samson’s average has dipped to 11.55. Contrast this with his fellow opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been smashing fifties for fun, and the pressure on the Kerala-born batter becomes clear.
The “Ishan Kishan” Factor
The biggest threat to Samson’s playing XI spot isn’t his own form—it’s the man sitting on the bench. Ishan Kishan has been in “beast mode” during domestic cricket and looked lethal in the limited opportunities he got this month.
- The Comparison: Kishan provides a left-handed option at the top and is currently striking at 160+ in the nets.
- The Experts’ View: Former cricketer Kris Srikkanth recently stated that Kishan is now “undroppable,” suggesting that the management might favor the “hot hand” over the “incumbent player.”
Why the Management Still Backs Him
Despite the noise, bowling coach Morne Morkel and captain Suryakumar Yadav have remained vocal about their support.
- The “Match-Winner” Tag: The team believes Samson is just “one knock away.” His ability to clear the ropes from ball one is rare, even in a squad full of power-hiters.
- Tactical Flexibility: Selecting Samson as an opener allows India to play both Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube in the middle order. Swapping him out for a middle-order keeper would require a total reshuffle of the batting lineup.
The Technical Glitch: Footwork or Mindset?
Sunil Gavaskar recently pointed out a recurring issue in Samson’s dismissals: Static Footwork. In the 4th T20I, he was rattled by Mitchell Santner because he stayed too deep in the crease.
“To a spinner, you need to go as much forward as possible to smother the turn. Sanju didn’t do himself any favors there,” Gavaskar noted on commentary.
Verdict: Will He Start in the First XI?
As of today, Sanju Samson is likely to start the first match of the World Cup, but he is on the thinnest of ice. The team management has invested heavily in the “Samson as Opener” template, and they won’t abandon it based on one bad series. However, if he fails in the final T20I or the warm-up game, don’t be surprised to see Ishan Kishan taking the gloves for the tournament opener.