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Sanju Samson missed a significant opportunity in the second T20I against Sri Lanka, stepping in for Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to a stiff neck. Opening the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Samson faced a challenging task with India needing 78 runs in 8 overs as per the DLS method. Unfortunately, he was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball, undone by a quick delivery from Maheesh Theekshana that shattered his defense.
While the remaining batsmen successfully guided India to victory with a few balls to spare, Samson’s brief appearance was a letdown. Prior to this match, he had scored a half-century in his previous T20I innings against Zimbabwe, making his recent failure particularly disappointing. Despite making his T20I debut in 2015, Samson has struggled to secure a consistent spot in the team. His performances have often been sporadic, with limited success across various batting positions.
Former Indian bowler Tinu Yohannan believes that Sanju Samson deserves a more extended opportunity in international cricket and should receive stronger support from the management. Yohannan emphasizes that, having previously lauded Samson’s batting skills, Gambhir must now match his words with actions and provide the backing Samson needs to thrive.
“He debuted about 10 years ago and after that he has been (playing) on and off. He didn’t get a long run at any time. Each game is like a do-or-die game for him. Almost every time when he walks out to bat, he goes into pressure situations. He has to be given a long run somewhere down the line. He needs backing,” Tinu said on Rev Sportz.
He added that, unlike his position with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, where Samson’s spot is secure, his place in the Indian team is more precarious. With Rishabh Pant’s return, the competition for spots has become even more intense.
“At Royals, he knows what his role is. He also knows it doesn’t matter if he fails. I know, in the Indian team it’s very difficult for him to get a long stretch of games, especially now that Rishabh (Pant) has come back. But then, he needs to be given a long run at some point of time,” the former Indian pacer said further.
Tinu Yohannan also mentioned that Samson performs best when he isn’t under pressure, as it enables him to showcase his natural talent and play freely.
“He is not a guy who puts pressure on himself. He is someone who has a free mind. He is someone who excels when there are no strings attached, in an environment where he can express himself. He scored a century in his last ODI (against South Africa) and now he hasn’t been picked in the ODI squad. He has reached a point where he doesn’t think about it too much. He just goes game by game,” said Yohannan.
Sanju Samson has faced difficulties in the T20I format for India, accumulating just 444 runs in 29 matches with an average of 20.18 and a strike rate below 140. In contrast, his ODI performance has been more impressive. In 16 ODIs, he has amassed over 500 runs at an average of 56.67 and a strike rate nearing 100. His maiden ODI century came against South Africa in his most recent ODI appearance in December 2023.
