Sanju Samson’s Inconsistency Ahead of T20 World Cup Has Ex-Indian Cricketer Worried

Despite struggling against New Zealand, Indian opener Sanju Samson retains the full support of captain Suryakumar Yadav and team management.

Sanju Samson’s Inconsistency Ahead of T20 World Cup Has Ex-Indian Cricketer Worried

Irfan Pathan exclaimed that Sanju Samson has been inconsistent in T20Is throughout his career. (via India Today)

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Time seems to be running out of Sanju Samson’s hand, owing to his poor run of form in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan offered his take on Samson’s recent struggles, noting that he has struggled with consistency throughout his career. 

Sanju Samson let another opportunity slip away during the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Vizag, after being dismissed for just 24 runs off 15 balls in a 216-run chase. Unlike the previous games, he did get off to a good start with four boundaries and a six, to take the Men in Blue to 53/2 at the end of the first six overs. However, bad luck struck again, as he was dismissed by Mitchell Santner in the 7th over.

It sums up his poor run of form in the shortest format, ever since he made his return as an opener. In the four T20I against the Blackcaps, Samson has recorded scores of just 10, 6, 0, and 24. Just ahead of the T20 World Cup, the Kerala-born batter’s place in the side seems to be in trouble, with in-form Ishan Kishan waiting in the ranks to replace him. Kishan, who has played in Tilak Varma’s injury absence, has scored 112 runs at a strike-rate of over 220. 

With the Men in Blue having already sealed the series 3-1, Sanju Samson’s form now remains the talking point. Prior to the NZ series, he had to drop down the order to facilitate Shubman Gill’s inclusion in the side last year, a decision that backfired, and paved the way for the 31-year-old’s return to the opening spot. However, with Samson under pressure once again, Irfan Pathan recently pointed towards an issue that has been following the CSK star throughout his career. 

Pathan acknowledged the right-hander’s natural abilities, but noted that he has never been a consistent player. The former Indian all-rounder predicted Samson to score runs in the upcoming games if given the opportunity.

Furthermore, Irfan Pathan stated that Samson’s poor form has been noticeable and that he could face the same fate as Gill, especially with the team and the selectors prioritizing results over adaptability in the long run. He said, on his YouTube channel:

I said Sanju Samson is a fantastic player but not consistent. We have to accept he was never consistent… He will be in pressure because Ishan Kishan has scored runs and placed himself as a contender, showing the value of domestic cricket.

Moreover, Sanju Samson’s dismal run of form was something Irfan Pathan had already predicted after the South Africa series last year. He had previously noted that the wicket-keeper batter’s time on the bench would eventually result in his game becoming more rusty and erratic. 

Sanju Samson’s T20 career over the years

While struggling to remain in form, Sanju Samson has enjoyed a remarkable career with the Indian T20I team over the years. He is in fact, the only batter to score three hundreds in a calendar year in T20Is internationally, a feat that he achieved in 2024.

Sanju Samson T20Is
Sanju Samson excelled as an opener in T20Is in 2024. (via NDTV Sports)

Samson was first promoted to the top of the order by head coach Gautam Gambhir at the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup, a decision that paid off. He forged a brilliant opening combination with Abhishek Sharma, hitting 111 runs off just 47 balls for the Men in Blue against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024. Samson then notched twin hundreds against South Africa a month later, playing away from home. 

During his peak, Samson averaged 32.88 with a strike-rate of 178.02 as an opener, a significant jump from his career stats while batting down the order. In 56 T20Is, the 31-year-old has scored 1,072 runs at an average of 24.36. However, in the run-up to the T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson has struggled, managing just 104 runs in his last nine innings at an average of 11.55 and a strike-rate of just 133.33. 

A talking point of his recent downfall has been the extended time that he had to spend on the bench. Another major issue has been his footwork, with the right-hander often going deep into the crease to hit bowlers, something that has not worked out in his favor. 

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