Former skipper Sourav Ganguly has urged the Indian team management to give Sanju Samson a longer rope despite his recent poor form.

Samson is in line to play the next Group A clash against Pakistan, with first-choice opener Abhishek Sharma’s availability still uncertain.

The southpaw missed the group-stage fixture against Namibia on February 12 in Delhi as he continues to recover from the stomach infection. In his absence, Samson was given a chance to open alongside Ishan Kishan but failed to convert his 8-ball 22 into a big score.

However, Ganguly warned India against unnecessary tinkering with the playing XI ahead of their marquee encounter against Pakistan, and suggested that Samson should only be sidelined if Abhishek is declared fit.

"India's combination is strong and well-balanced, so there’s no need for major changes. Everything depends on Abhishek Sharma’s fitness. If Abhishek is fit to play, he may come in for Sanju, while the rest of the team should remain the same," Ganguly told India Today.

Ganguly pointed to Samson’s brilliance as opener in 2024, when he slammed three centuries in seven T20I innings, and stressed that the wicketkeeper-batter has the potential to justify an extended run.

"Sanju is a very good player and deserves consistent opportunities. No player can perform under constant pressure where two failures mean being dropped. It’s important to give him a longer run to maintain his form. After all, just over a year ago, he scored three centuries in T20Is. He has immense potential, and I hope he is given the time he deserves," he added.

Despite being unwell on the day of India’s campaign opener against the USA in Mumbai, Abhishek Sharma showed immense courage and chose to play the game. However, he bagged a golden duck and didn’t come to field during the second innings.

After landing in Delhi, the left-hander’s health deteriorated and he had to be hospitalized. The stomach bug and high fever reportedly led to Sharma losing a significant amount of weight in a short period.

Speaking at the toss for Namibia game, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said that Abhishek is “still not fine and will miss a game or two.”

With Abhishek Sharma’s fitness still under assessment, Sanju Samson is likely to be given another opportunity in the high-pressure game against Pakistan.