Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said the team should show more patience with Sanju Samson before the important T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo on February 15. Samson had a fantastic 2024 in T20 internationals.
He averaged nearly 44 and scored at a strike rate above 180, including three centuries. But in 2025, things didn’t go well for him. Because he was moved up and down the batting order, his form dropped. In 15 matches, he averaged just over 20 and scored at a strike rate below 127.
When he went back to opening the batting in the T20 series against New Zealand before the World Cup, his struggles continued. He averaged less than 10 in five matches, which led to him being dropped, with the team preferring Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma as openers.
However, when Abhishek missed India’s recent match against Namibia, the Kerala wicketkeeper got another chance at the top. He scored a quick 22 runs off just 8 balls. Speaking about Samson’s spot in the team before the Pakistan game, Ganguly told India Today:
“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.”
Sourav Ganguly Backs India’s Current Playing 11 Ahead of IND vs PAK Clash
Sourav Ganguly thinks India should mostly keep the same team for the big match against Pakistan, with the only change being Abhishek Sharma coming in for Sanju Samson. The Men in Blue have started the tournament strongly, winning their first two games comfortably against the USA and Namibia.
“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,” said Ganguly (via the aforementioned source).
India hasn’t lost a T20I against Pakistan since the 2021 T20 World Cup and leads 7-1 in their T20 World Cup head-to-head record. However, Pakistan comes into the match in great form, having easily won their first two games against the Netherlands and the USA.
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