IND v ENG 2025: “These things happen”—Kevin Pietersen defends Sanju Samson amidst criticism of his technique v pace
Sanju Samson has scored 34 runs in 3 innings v England with best score of 26.
Sanju Samson has been criticized for his lack of technique against quality pace bowling after he failed to score substantial runs in the recent three T20Is of the five-match series between India and England. He has 34 runs in 3 innings thus far with a best of 26.
India has been opening the innings with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma since the home T20I series against Bangladesh. Under Suryakumar Yadav's leadership, the Men in Blue developed a bold batting approach, in which it is unlikely that a batsman will score huge runs in every match.
Abhishek scored a match-winning knock in the first T20I but struggled to make an impression in the next two, while Samson scored a handful of single-digit runs and 26 in the series opener.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen commented on Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma's inconsistency at the top of the order.
Pietersen also suggested that playing an attacking brand of cricket doesn't guarantee success every time, but he backed Samson and said he has a good track record with this approach.
"I just think that on occasions you get stuck, and that's life. You've got to take risks at the top of the order. Same as Abhishek Sharma, same as all these batters. They're taking risks at the top of the order. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but more often than not, Samson comes up with the goods," Pietersen said on Star Sports.
Pietersen heaped praise on Samson and expressed shock that he had not received consistent chances in the past.
"I think mentally he's sound. I really like Sanju Samson as a batter. I actually love him. I was pretty surprised that he hasn't had more of a consistent role over the last few years. Yes, he's got a game here at the top of the order, but listen, these things happen. Things happen so quickly in the shortest form of the game," he added.
Samson struggled with short balls in the continuing series, but Pietersen believes there is nothing wrong with his technique and will not question it. He was dismissed twice in three games by Jofra Archer to short balls.
"If he keeps doing it over the next six weeks or he does it over the next couple of months, then I'd probably have a look at it and start to question his technique. But I think that he's a fabulous player. I think he plays the short ball extremely well, and I just think he’s a rock-solid player. So, from that standpoint, there's no way that I'm going to stand here and critique his play of the short ball," he concluded.
India and England will play the 4th T20I of the series on January 31 in Pune.
