As India prepares for their upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has shared his views on Sanju Samson and his current batting struggles.
After India’s impressive 93-run win over Namibia, Gavaskar noted that Samson is facing a technical issue that has often led to his dismissal, especially when opening the innings against the new ball. Although Samson scored 22 runs off just eight balls, his performance highlighted the flaw that continues to hinder his progress.
Strong start but a repeated outcome for Sanju Samson against Namibia
With Abhishek Sharma unavailable due to illness, Samson stepped up to the opening spot alongside Ishan Kishan. He made an aggressive start, hitting left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann for a massive six in the first over. The excitement continued as he struck two sixes off Ben Shikongo and executed a stylish cover drive, quickly reaching 22 runs and appearing set for a big score.
However, while trying to flick a slower delivery from Shikongo on the last ball of the second over, Samson was caught at deep mid-wicket. Replays indicated a familiar issue: his back leg was too deep in the crease, affecting his balance and commitment to the shot.
This dismissal echoes his recent performance, where he managed only 46 runs in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand last month.
Gavaskar highlights technical problem in Samson’s batting ahead of Pakistan match
After the match, Gavaskar mentioned that Samson often stays too deep in the crease when attempting the flick shot, which affects his control and balance.
“Sanju Samson has a technical problem. He goes too deep into the crease and plays that flick shot. He relies on timing to get it into the gap or hit a six,” Gavaskar explained on JioHotstar.
Gavaskar acknowledged Namibia’s bowlers for their strategic field placements aimed at exploiting Samson’s usual scoring zones. He emphasized that if Samson plays in the crucial match against Pakistan, patience is essential.
“Namibia were smart with their field placements. They designed it to get Samson out. However, he did play some good shots, which should boost his confidence. He needs to make adjustments, especially when he opens against the new ball. If he plays in the next match against Pakistan, he must spend more time at the crease,” added Gavaskar.
