Sanju Samson is currently facing a challenging period with the bat in India’s five-match T20I series against West Indies. In India’s eight-wicket win in the first T20I in Lucknow on October 6, 2026, the wicketkeeper-batter scored just 11 runs from 9 balls. Scheduled for October 9, 2026, in Ranchi, the second match has raised questions regarding Samson’s current form and his position in the starting lineup.
Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara supported Sanju Samson for the second T20I against West Indies, asserting that there should be no doubt about his spot in the starting lineup despite his recent poor scores, and encouraged the team to back him. In the first T20I against West Indies in Lucknow, Samson’s poor form persisted as he was out for only 11. The low score added to Samson’s troubling streak of single-digit performances, following his recent Asian Games, where he scored 9, 7, and 2.
On Jiostar Pujara said, “I hope that there is no pressure on him, because there shouldn’t be. He has won a World Cup for the Indian team and performed exceptionally well there. He’s a quality player. So there shouldn’t be any questions around him being part of the playing XI.”
He further added, “Yes, you might have one or two bad games, and then if he has that, that’s the time when the team management has to step in, give him the right message that, ‘You are an important part of this team and will be part of this playing XI, so just go out there, express yourself, play your natural game.’ And in a T20 format, there’ll be some failures in between. But that’s the time when you talk to a player, give him the right message. Yes, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is there, he will get his opportunity when the right time comes, but you don’t make too many changes. If Sanju plays another two or three innings, I’m sure he will perform exceptionally well.”
Pujara commended Naman Dhir for displaying smart cricketing judgment during his three-wicket performance against West Indies in the first T20I. He pointed out Dhir’s skill in adjusting his pace, line, and length following a six he had conceded. Pujara remarked that although Dhir isn’t likely to bowl four overs regularly, he is emerging as a valuable T20 bowler. He also emphasised that Dhir needs to learn how to adjust his bowling to suit pitches that favour him as he gains more experience.
Pujara said, “It was good to see that he was using his cricketing intelligence. He picked up three wickets, but before that he got hit for a six, so he was trying to change his line, he was trying to change his length and was varying his pace really well. So, yes, you’re a part-timer, but you can’t bowl just the usual stuff; you have to be a little bit more than that, and Naman Dhir showed that he’s a quality bowler.”
He concluded, saying, “You can’t expect him to bowl four overs in each and every game, but he’s definitely improving and is showing that he can be a decent bowler in a T20 format. But the performance against West Indies team in the first game was exceptional. There was some assistance from the pitch at Lucknow, so he will also have to learn the art of bowling on a flat pitch as well. But that will come with experience, and it was a good start for him.”
