Sanju Samson's International Career Hangs by a Thread After Another Failure
The third T20 match between India and New Zealand in Guwahati on January 25, 2026, might have been the final nail in the coffin for Sanju Samson's international aspirations. The Kerala batsman's first-ball duck against Matt Henry laid bare the mounting problems that have plagued his recent performances, leaving his future with the national team uncertain.
Mental Fragility Exposed Under Pressure
Dejected and devastated, Samson staggered back to the pavilion after his latest failure. The delivery from Henry wasn't particularly menacing—a straight ball that should have been handled comfortably. However, with his international career on the line and runs drying up completely, Samson attempted a nervous flick that betrayed his mental state.
His head wasn't still, appearing muddled by a thousand thoughts, while his hands and feet froze as if he were a wax statue. Time, he perhaps knew, was running out. Or perhaps, it had already run out completely. With scores of 10, 6, and 0 in this series alone, there's nowhere left for him to hide.
Technical Flaws Against Pace Bowling
The numbers make for damning reading. Since January 2025, Samson has averaged just 17 in 14 outings at a middling strike rate of 126.59. His lone 50-plus total came against Oman, hardly a test against quality bowling. More concerning are his specific weaknesses against fast bowling.
England seamers exploited his short-ball vulnerability last year, with Samson perishing while pulling, hooking, and trying to defend. Any modicum of swing or seam movement disarrays him completely, as evidenced during the Australia series. Against New Zealand, even standard straight balls are spooking him.
- Average against New Zealand: 5.2
- Average against England: 10.2
- Average against Australia: 12.5
- Average against West Indies: 18.5
His lone purple patch came against South Africa when they were missing their premier fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.
Mounting Pressure and Diminishing Opportunities
With India possessing an embarrassment of batting riches, the team management's patience is wearing thin. The pressure on Samson is multifaceted:
- The burden of expectations from his home-state Kerala's passionate fanbase
- The challenge of displacing established players like Shubman Gill
- The constant shuffling in and out of the side before the World Cup triumph
- Being shunted down the batting order when Gill returned to the team
Some phases of his career deserve empathy, particularly the inconsistent opportunities he received earlier. However, his current lean patch—where he has squandered multiple chances—deserves perhaps pity rather than sympathy.
Abundance of Alternatives for Team India
Thankfully for India, alternatives abound. The solutions are straightforward:
Opening with Ishan Kishan, even though it disrupts head coach Gautam Gambhir's preferred right-left combination, and slotting in Shreyas Iyer, who has been exceptionally unfortunate to miss out despite his credentials.
Fate has been particularly cruel to Iyer in the shortest formats. Once touted as captain-in-waiting with proven IPL credentials, his T20 numbers remain commendable. He scored a match-defining 53 against Australia in December 2023 and possesses more gears and know-how than Samson currently displays.
With the World Cup opener less than a fortnight away, Samson's continued drought would vex the team management. Regular No. 3 Tilak Varma, currently recovering from an abdominal injury, might return and reclaim his spot for the tournament.
Homecoming Without Redemption
The final game of the series is scheduled for Thiruvananthapuram, Samson's hometown. However, it appears unlikely he will feature in that match. In a perverse sense, this might bring relief to both the player and his feverish fans—sparing them the sight of their favorite star struggling on home turf.
As India prepares for the upcoming World Cup, the question remains: How long will the team management persist with a player whose mental fragility and technical flaws against pace have left his international career on the brink? The answer might already be written in his recent performances.
