Sanju Samson's Batting Struggles Continue in T20I Series Against New Zealand
The highly anticipated return of Sanju Samson to his home ground in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday did little to alleviate his ongoing batting difficulties. Playing in front of his hometown crowd, the Kerala batter experienced yet another lean outing, marking his fifth consecutive failure in the T20I series against New Zealand.
Another Disappointing Performance
Samson's struggles followed a familiar and frustrating pattern. Attempting to power a delivery across the line for a maximum, he could only manage a thick outside edge that carried safely to the deep third fielder. Dismissed for a mere six runs, his series tally concluded at just 46 runs from five innings. This figure represents the lowest aggregate by an Indian opener in a five-match T20I series, surpassing his own unwanted record from exactly one year ago. During that series against England, he scored 51 runs across five matches, repeatedly undone by the short ball.
Technical Concerns Raised by Experts
Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed significant concern over what he described as a recurring technical issue, labeling the pattern of dismissals as unusual at the international level. "I think now this is twice in about 12 months. It all started with that England series. Very rarely do you find a top-class batter developing a pattern, especially in the shortest format of the game. He got dismissed five times in the same fashion – short ball caught in the deep. Here also, if you see his dismissals versus pace, there is an eerie pattern to it," Chopra remarked during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.
Chopra proceeded to analyze Samson's batting setup in meticulous detail. "You go deep inside the crease even before the ball is bowled. You try and play the ball, but the front foot doesn't go anywhere. As a result, your bat actually closes every single time you play. He got lucky with an outside edge once in Thiruvananthapuram. In the previous game again, he closed the bat a bit too early, so again a pattern has developed," he elaborated.
Uncertain Future and Rising Competition
Samson's position in the Indian team looks increasingly uncertain, particularly with reserve wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan enjoying a prolific series. Kishan capped his impressive run with a scintillating maiden T20I century on Saturday night, propelling India to their second-highest total in the format. This outstanding performance comes just six days before India's World Cup opener in Mumbai, further intensifying the competition for batting spots.
The persistent technical flaws and consistent failures have cast a shadow over Samson's international career, prompting questions about his ability to adapt and perform under pressure. As the team prepares for crucial upcoming matches, his form and technique will undoubtedly be under intense scrutiny from selectors and cricket analysts alike.
