IND vs NZ: Sanju Samson’s Vizag T20I Ends in Missed Chance

Sanju Samson’s struggles continued during the T20I match against New Zealand in Vizag on January 28. He faced another missed opportunity, scoring only 24 runs off 15 balls. India was chasing a target of 216 runs to secure a 4-0 lead in the series but encountered early setbacks.

Match Overview

India’s innings began poorly with Abhishek Sharma dismissed for a golden duck on the first ball. Suryakumar Yadav quickly followed him back to the pavilion. With Ishan Kishan absent and Shreyas Iyer sidelined, this match was crucial for Samson to prove himself.

Samson’s Performance

Samson started brightly, hitting two consecutive boundaries and contributing to a total of 53 runs in the powerplay alongside Rinku Singh. At one point, his strike rate reached nearly 200. He ended the powerplay with a striking six off Jacob Duffy.

Turning Point

The momentum changed when Mitchell Santner came into bowl. Samson struggled to adjust his footwork and was ultimately dismissed by a flighted delivery, leaving his stumps rattled.

Expert Analysis

Commentator Ian Smith noted that Samson appeared uncertain about his batting technique. “It’s not a shot of any conviction at all,” Smith remarked, indicating that the delivery should not have troubled a top-order player.

Sunil Gavaskar was more critical of Samson’s approach, suggesting he should have utilized a front-foot technique against the spinners. “If anything, you need to go as much forward as possible,” Gavaskar said, highlighting the importance of foot movement against slower bowlers.

Statistics Summary

Throughout the series, Samson has scored a total of 40 runs, averaging just 10. His performance raises questions about his batting confidence as he looks to regain form in future matches.