Sanju Samson is once again in the spotlight, but not for the right reasons. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter has managed scores of just 10, 6, and 0 in three innings during the ongoing series against New Zealand. More worryingly, Sanju Samson has spent only 13 minutes at the crease across these three matches. With the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching fast, Sanju Samson’s poor form has raised serious questions about his place in the Indian team.
The Rise and Fall Pattern
Sanju Samson has been part of Indian cricket for over eight years now. However, his career has been a story of ups and downs. In 2024, it looked like Sanju Samson had finally arrived on the big stage. He scored three T20I centuries that year – one against Bangladesh and two in South Africa. Sanju Samson’s aggressive batting style seemed perfect for the role that head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted him to play.
But there was another side to this story. Along with those three centuries, Sanju Samson also recorded five ducks in 2024. This inconsistency has been the biggest problem throughout his career. While Sanju Samson can win matches on his day, those days don’t come often enough at the international level.
What Changed in 2025?
The year 2025 has not been kind to Sanju Samson. During the home series against England, Sanju Samson struggled badly. He scored 26, 5, 3, 1, and 16 in five innings. His technique was exposed by fast bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. Archer dismissed Sanju Samson three times during that series.
After these failures, the selectors brought Shubman Gill back for the Asia Cup 2025. But instead of dropping Sanju Samson, they tried him at number 5. This experiment failed completely. Sanju Samson had never succeeded in the middle order before, and this time was no different. By the end of 2025, Sanju Samson averaged just 20.18 in 11 innings with a strike rate of 126.85. He managed only one half-century in the entire year.
The Technical Problems
Former India opener and coach WV Raman has pointed out serious technical issues in Sanju Samson’s batting. According to Raman, Sanju Samson has the same bat-speed on his downswing against bowlers of different speeds. This works well against medium-pace bowlers who bowl around 130 kmph. However, Sanju Samson struggles when facing bowlers who are either much faster or slower than this speed.
“Sanju has a bit of a problem on both the technical and mindset front,” Raman explained. The bat-speed issue means Sanju Samson gets into trouble against express pace or against bowlers who use variations effectively. This technical flaw has been exposed repeatedly at the international level.
In the current series against New Zealand, Sanju Samson’s technique continues to let him down. He is neither keeping wickets well nor batting well. For someone who is supposed to be India’s designated wicketkeeper-batter for the T20 World Cup 2026, this is a big concern.
The Mental Battle
While technique is one part of the problem, Sanju Samson’s mental struggles cannot be ignored. The constant changes in his batting position have affected his confidence. First, he was dropped after poor performances. Then he was recalled and asked to open the innings. After that experiment worked in South Africa, he was moved to number 5 for the Asia Cup. Now, he is back opening again.
These frequent changes would shake any player’s confidence. However, Sanju Samson’s mental issues run deeper than just batting position changes. For over a decade, he has failed to maintain consistency at the highest level. This suggests a problem with handling pressure and competition.
Zubin Bharucha, Rajasthan Royals High Performance Director, believes Sanju Samson’s problems are mainly mental rather than technical. “It happens with everyone. Every player who’s played the game goes through this. He is no exception,” Bharucha said. He pointed out that even Suryakumar Yadav went through similar phases recently.
According to Bharucha, Sanju Samson needs to work on managing pressure better. The lack of clarity about his role and the competition for places is creating issues. “It’s just about hitting a few more balls in areas you feel might be weaker than your strength,” Bharucha added.
What's going on, Sanju Samson bhai?
You used to perform whenever you got a chance, even without backing. Now the team backs you fully, yet the runs aren’t coming. We can’t see you like this.
Please bounce back soon, we believe in you.
pic.twitter.com/EdlgK8gv0y
— Mahi Patel (@Mahi_Patel_07) January 26, 2026
The Ishan Kishan Factor
Making matters worse for Sanju Samson is the form of Ishan Kishan. After scoring just 6 on his return to the Indian team, Ishan Kishan has bounced back strongly. He scored 76 off 32 balls and then 28 off 18 balls in the following matches. While Sanju Samson was failing, Kishan was performing under pressure.
Ishan Kishan is now breathing down Sanju Samson’s neck. If Sanju Samson continues to fail and Kishan keeps performing, the selectors might have no choice but to make a change. This added pressure is clearly affecting Sanju Samson’s confidence and performance.
WV Raman acknowledged this challenge: “He knows that there is a lot of competition for the wicketkeeper-batter’s slot in white-ball cricket. All that is probably putting pressure on him because he still has enough talent to work this out. He is a capable player and can deliver for India.”
Where Does Sanju Samson Go From Here?
Right now, Sanju Samson still has the backing of Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. However, time is running out fast. India’s group stage matches at the T20 World Cup 2026 should be relatively easy, with Pakistan being the only real challenge. This gives Sanju Samson some breathing space to find form.
But if the problems continue, changes could come during the Super 8 stage when India faces tougher opposition. Ishan Kishan could replace Sanju Samson at that point. And if that happens, it might be very difficult for Sanju Samson to come back into the team.
After the T20 World Cup, Shubman Gill is likely to return to the white-ball setup. Moreover, Gill might be given a leadership role, making him almost undroppable. If that happens, there will be even less room for Sanju Samson in the team. With players like Shreyas Iyer waiting on the bench and many youngsters performing well in domestic cricket, the competition is only getting tougher.
Can Sanju Samson Turn It Around?
Sanju Samson has shown in the past that he can score big runs. His three centuries in 2024 proved he has the talent. However, talent alone is not enough at the international level. Sanju Samson needs to fix both his technical issues and his mental approach to the game.
On the technical side, Sanju Samson must work on adjusting his bat-speed against different types of bowlers. He needs to develop a better game plan against express pace and against bowlers who use variations. These are basic skills that every international player must have.
On the mental side, Sanju Samson needs to find a way to handle pressure better. He must stop worrying about competition and focus on his own game. The constant fear of being dropped seems to be affecting his performances. Sanju Samson needs to play with freedom and confidence, the way he does for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
Sanju Samson is at a critical point in his career. After more than eight years of being in and out of the Indian team, he finally got a clear run in 2024. But he has failed to make the most of this opportunity. His recent performances have been extremely poor, and his technique continues to be exposed at the highest level.
The post Sanju Samson Struggles Continue, Is His India Career Coming to an End? appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
from Cricket News & Updates | Today Cricket Rankings | Latest Match Schedule https://ift.tt/wnKkupt
via IFTTT
0 Comments