Sanju Samson's Batting Woes Continue as Sunil Gavaskar Delivers Scathing Technical Analysis
NEW DELHI: The ongoing T20I series against New Zealand has become a source of mounting frustration for Sanju Samson, whose inability to convert promising starts into substantial scores has drawn sharp criticism from batting legend Sunil Gavaskar. The former India captain did not mince words during his on-air commentary, delivering a stinging assessment that pinpointed glaring technical deficiencies in the wicketkeeper-batter's approach.
Another Unconverted Start in High-Pressure Chase
During the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, India faced the daunting task of chasing 216 runs against a determined New Zealand side. The early dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav intensified the pressure on the middle order. Samson initially provided a glimmer of hope, showcasing his trademark flair with three crisp boundaries and a commanding six that briefly steadied the Indian innings.
However, just as he appeared to be finding his rhythm and building momentum, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner produced a delivery that exposed Samson's vulnerabilities. The left-arm spinner sneaked one through the batter's defense, rattling the stumps and ending Samson's innings at 24 runs off just 15 balls. This dismissal marked his highest score in the series so far, following previous contributions of 10, 6, and 0 runs.
Gavaskar's Blunt Technical Diagnosis
From the commentary box, Sunil Gavaskar immediately identified what he perceived as the fundamental cause of Samson's dismissal. The batting maestro focused his analysis on what he described as a complete absence of proper footwork, a technical flaw that has repeatedly hampered Samson's performances against spin bowling.
"My first impression is that there was no footwork at all. Not very sure whether there was any turn. First impression was he was just standing there making room and playing through the offside," Gavaskar stated with characteristic directness during his initial observation of the dismissal.
After reviewing the replay, Gavaskar expanded his critique, emphasizing how Samson's technical lapses consistently leave him vulnerable. "Like I said, hardly any movement of the feet. Going outside leg-stump, once again exposing all three stumps and when you miss, the bowler's gonna hit, and that's what happened to Sanju Samson the second time around," he added, highlighting how the batter's positioning creates unnecessary risks.
Mounting Pressure and Selection Dilemmas
Samson's ongoing struggles come at a particularly challenging time for Indian cricket, with the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played on home soil drawing ever closer. The competition for batting positions has intensified significantly, especially with Ishan Kishan delivering impressive performances at number three earlier in the same series.
The scrutiny surrounding Samson's place in the playing eleven has reached new heights, as selectors and team management evaluate which combinations will provide the strongest foundation for World Cup success. Each unconverted innings adds to the growing pressure on the talented but inconsistent batter to justify his continued selection.
Technical consistency has emerged as the central theme in discussions about Samson's international career. While his natural talent and aggressive stroke-making ability have never been in question, the repeated failures to build substantial innings have raised concerns about his adaptability and application at the highest level of the game.
As the series progresses and World Cup preparations intensify, all eyes will remain fixed on whether Samson can address the technical deficiencies highlighted by one of cricket's greatest batting minds, or whether selection pressures will force changes to India's middle-order configuration.
