Senior Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has stated that wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson must shoulder the blame for his run drought despite being given ample chances ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Opening against New Zealand, Samson has struggled, scoring just 40 runs in four matches, with in-form Ishan Kishan pushing for his spot.
Samson returned to the top of the order after the selectors’ surprise decision to leave Shubman Gill out of the World Cup squad. However, he has struggled to repay the team management’s trust, delivering modest returns in recent outings.
The right-hander was dismissed for a golden duck in the third T20I and failed to capitalise on a promising start in the fourth match in Vizag. Although other top-order batters have also been inconsistent, they have produced impactful performances when they found form during the series.
“Samson Must Handle Pressure, Perform Consistently”- Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal feels that an experienced player like Samson should be capable of coping with the pressure of competition and ensure it doesn’t impact his performances as he battles to secure his spot.
“Sanju Samson has played for many years. He started in the IPL middle-order, then became an opener. After playing international cricket for 10-12 years, pressure shouldn’t be an excuse. He has had four chances in this series. I can accept failure in one or two matches, but not in three or four.”
“He knows someone like Ishan Kishan, who is the backup and is batting well at number three, is waiting. Sanju will blame himself. He had four opportunities but could not make them count,” Chahal said on Jio Star (via ANI).
Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson shared a stint as teammates at Rajasthan Royals during the spinner’s three-year run with the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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