Samson produced paltry scores of 10, 6, 0, 24 and 6 in the T20I series against New Zealand.
Tilak Varma’s surgery to treat an abdominal issue allowed the Indian team management to accommodate both T20 World Cup-bound wicketkeepers, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, in the playing XI for the recently held T20I series against New Zealand at home.
While Samson scuffed the opportunity to cement his place, scoring 46 runs in five innings at an average of 9.20, Kishan grabbed the chance with both hands, smashing 215 runs in four innings at 53.75 with a strike-rate of 231.18.
With Tilak set to make a comeback in the upcoming T20 World Cup, the Gautam Gambhir-led management faces a tough decision to choose between Samson and Kishan. Considering the current form, the southpaw is likely to get the nod ahead of the right-hander at the top of the order.
However, former India cricketer Robin Uthappa believes that Samson should continue to be given opportunities as an opener until Tilak is fully fit.
Uthappa went on to say that like it was in the case of skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Samson too deserves a long rope to rediscover his old touch.
“Form will always be temporary, be it Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, or Rohit Sharma. When you are a cricketer of that calibre, I don’t think the form of Sanju Samson is an issue. Even Suryakumar Yadav wasn’t out of form. It’s just that he didn’t play in one position long enough. The kind of player Samson is, when he comes off in tandem with Abhishek Sharma, they look like a million bucks. That energy is insane,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.
“Yes, he has got the opportunities and not performed in them. But there has also always been a sword over his head that if he doesn’t perform, there is someone waiting for his spot. There has never been a time where he just goes and bats. When they’ve given him that chance to just go and bat and do your thing, he has done well,” Uthappa added.
The 2007 T20 World Cup winner further stated that India should have carried on with Suryakumar even if the captain failed to be among the runs in the New Zealand series.
“He has got the opportunities, but as I said about Surya, in any World Cup, you will carry one player. I was saying carry Surya if that’s required because when he comes off, he’ll win you matches like he’s winning now in the New Zealand series. The same applies for Sanju Samson. Carry him and stick with him. Keep Ishan Kishan at No.3. But if Tilak gets ready, then play your best 11,” Uthappa remarked.
India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium.
India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sunder, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy