Amid the intense scrutiny around Sanju Samson, the Indian camp appeared relaxed and cheerful as the team touched down in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, January 29, ahead of the final T20I against New Zealand. Captain Suryakumar Yadav was spotted playfully teasing the local favourite at the airport.
In a video that has since gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), Suryakumar can be heard light-heartedly asking people to clear the way for the team’s arrival. “Please give way, don’t disturb chetta (big brother in Malayalam),” he joked.
Sanju Samson, clearly amused by the remark, was seen smiling as he walked through, adding to the jovial atmosphere. You can watch the video here:
“Don’t disturb Chetta 😂”
SKY making fun of Sanju Samson pic.twitter.com/JsTuXVkcgl
— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) January 29, 2026
Sanju Samson Set For Long-Awaited Home Appearance
Throughout his international career, Sanju Samson has been part of Indian squads that have toured Thiruvananthapuram, but he has never had the opportunity to represent the country in front of his home supporters.
Getting that chance would mark a significant milestone and could prove crucial in easing concerns over his form as India head toward the T20 World Cup after this series. Since regaining the opening slot from Shubman Gill, Samson has struggled to convert his starts, failing to register a half-century.
On most occasions, he has also found it difficult to bat beyond the powerplay, with only a couple of exceptions. However, there have been signs of improvement, particularly in the previous match in Visakhapatnam, where he scored a brisk 24 off 15 deliveries.
While it wasn’t the substantial innings he would have hoped for, the knock still offered encouragement ahead of the series decider. The responsibility now lies with the wicketkeeper-opener to return to top form and silence any doubts before the T20 World Cup, where India will defend their title.
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