Sanju Samson had yet another opportunity to strengthen his case for a place in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, but once again, he failed to capitalize. Against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Samson got a start but failed to convert it into a meaningful contribution. He was dismissed for 20 off 16 balls, trying to take on Noor Ahmad. A full delivery outside off saw him clear his front leg for a lofted shot, but he couldn’t get the elevation and holed out to Ravindra at long-off. It was a moment CSK needed, breaking a growing partnership with Nitish Rana.
Sanju Samson T20 stats in 2025
| Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 150 | 66 | 18.75 | 107 | 140.18 | 1 |
Missed opportunities piling up for Samson
After scoring a solid fifty against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Samson had the chance to build momentum. However, his last two outings have been underwhelming, to say the least. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he managed just 13 off 11 balls. And now, against CSK, he failed to go big yet again.
This wasn’t just another failure. It was another instance of Samson not making the most of his starts. While his Rajasthan Royals partner Nitish Rana played like the best he has ever played, Samson struggled to keep up and eventually perished while attempting a big shot. A
The Wicketkeeper Logjam
While Samson’s place is currently not gone, there would certainly be pressure. He had a horrible 5-match T20I series against England, where Samson averaged a mere 10.20. However, he isn’t the option for India, and that is where the problem will begin for Rajasthan’s adopted son.
Rishabh Pant is back in the reckoning, Ishan Kishan recently smashed a hundred, and Dhruv Jurel has been delivering impactful cameos. Jitesh Sharma is another contender who can fill in that finisher’s role as well when needed. On top of that, Abhishek Sharma has all but cemented his place with his explosive batting, while Yashasvi Jaiswal remains an integral part of India’s T20I plans. Both have age on their side as well.
With so much competition, Samson can’t afford mediocrity. While his IPL captaincy experience is a plus, Team India is looking for match-winners, not just solid contributors.
Noor Ahmad strikes, Sanju Samson departs for
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) March 30, 2025: JioHotstar#IPL2025 #RRvsCSK #NoorAhmad #SanjuSamson #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/SMu7MuVsFJ
