India likely to stick with Sanju Samson as T20 World Cup countdown begins

With the T20 World Cup looming, India’s preparations appear largely on track. Suryakumar Yadav’s men are riding a wave of confidence, unbeaten in their last nine bilateral T20I series and firmly among the frontrunners to defend the title. Yet, amid the wins and momentum, one talking point refuses to fade and that is Sanju Samson’s lack of runs.

The Kerala batter has struggled to make an impact in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Scores of 10, 6 and a first-ball dismissal have left him with just 16 runs from three outings, the latest setback coming in Guwahati where Matt Henry’s pace proved too sharp.

Despite the numbers, the Indian camp is resisting any rush to judgement. Bowling coach Morne Morkel moved to ease speculation ahead of the fourth T20I, insisting that Samson’s poor returns are not a long-term worry. According to Morkel, the wicketkeeper-batter is showing encouraging signs behind the scenes and is only one innings away from turning things around.

Morkel stressed that India’s broader objective remains peaking at the right moment rather than reacting to short-term dips. With the World Cup fast approaching, the management believes confidence and continuity will be key, especially when the team is already delivering results on the field.

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India’s dominance in the series-currently 3-0-has also allowed room for patience. While Samson searches for form, others have stepped up. Ishan Kishan, drafted into the XI following Tilak Varma’s injury, has seized his opportunity with a fluent 76 among his returns, adding fuel to the debate around India’s batting combination.

Calls for Kishan to be elevated and for Samson’s place to be reconsidered are growing louder, but the message from the team setup is clear- wins matter most, and form can change quickly. With two matches left before the World Cup begins, India is banking on Samson rediscovering his touch just in time, rather than pressing the panic button now.