Followers of the Indian nationwide cricket crew have desires that they might not be capable to say out loud, generally with a view to keep away from being cursed or jinxed and to make sure that their desires come true.
Seeing Sanju Samson in the course of the pitch within the 2026 T20 World Cup closing, not as promise or potential, however because the hero of the match, is likely one of the desires of followers as India prepares to qualify for a significant event.
This text makes no predictions. As an alternative, we dream. We deliver to life a narrative that each Indian cricket fan, at the very least a fan of Sanju Samson, has imagined at the very least as soon as.
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Sanju Samson and “contradiction”
Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper and batsman from Kerala, has been concerned in worldwide cricket for greater than a decade, however his story has been one among pauses, what-ifs and moments that by no means fairly arrived.
If there is a phrase that aptly describes his journey, it is “contradiction.” Be it inconsistent choice or inconsistent efficiency, Sanju Samson has seen all of it.
Over time, Samson practiced intensely within the Indian Premier League (IPL) and home cricket, gaining a fame as a extremely proficient batsman. However regardless of having all of the expertise and getting all the eye he deserved world wide, he was by no means thought of worthy of the lengthy rope.
He made his T20I debut in 2015 however has performed solely 55 T20I matches, wherein he has scored 1048 runs at a median of 24.37 and a strike price of 147.60. The correct-handed batsman has smashed three centuries and three fifties in T20I cricket to date.
Samson couldn’t carry out persistently for the Indian crew, be it T20I or ODI codecs. Nonetheless, the primary the reason why he was not chosen have been primarily the nice performances of different wicketkeeper-batsmen and his personal lack of type.
In ODI cricket, Sanju Samson performed 16 matches for India and scored 510 runs at a median of 56.66 and a strike price of 99.60. His final ODI look was in opposition to South Africa in 2023 and regardless of scoring a slew of objectives in that match, he has not been featured within the squad since.
In the meantime, a giant turning level in Samson’s profession got here when Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach and gave him a constant likelihood as a T20I opener.
Samson repaid the top coach’s belief and scored three centuries as a gap pitcher, securing his place on the prime of the pecking order. Nonetheless, his poor efficiency within the T20I sequence in opposition to England at residence in 2025 prompted the crew administration to lose religion in him.
Sanju Samson struggled mightily with the quick balls and after that sequence was floated round India’s batting order for the 2025 Asia Cup, however was ultimately dropped.
Nonetheless, Shubman Gill’s failure to carry out as an opener in T20I cricket and his dismissal simply earlier than the 2026 T20 World Cup gave him a brand new lease on life. With this transfer, Sanju Samson regained the opening spot.
It was hoped that the Kerala famous person would as soon as once more dominate as an opener, however that has not been the case to date and he’s struggling within the run-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Samson’s dismal efficiency comes at a time when Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has made a sensational return to the Indian crew and will doubtlessly take over the opening batsman’s spot.
Sanju Samson’s T20I profession (innings by innings):
| match day | run |
| July 19, 2015 | 19 |
| January 10, 2020 | 6 |
| January 31, 2020 | 8 |
| February 2, 2020 | 2 |
| December 4, 2020 | twenty three |
| December 6, 2020 | 15 |
| December 8, 2020 | 10 |
| July 25, 2021 | 27 |
| July 28, 2021 | 7 |
| July 29, 2021 | 0 |
| February 24, 2022 | DNB |
| February 26, 2022 | 39 |
| February 27, 2022 | 18 |
| June 28, 2022 | 77 |
| August 6, 2022 | 30* |
| August 7, 2022 | 15 |
| January 3, 2023 | 5 |
| 03-August twenty third | 12 |
| August 6, 2023 | 7 |
| August 8, 2023 | DNB |
| August 12, 2023 | DNB |
| August 13, 2023 | 13 |
| August 18, 23 | 1* |
| August 20, 2023 | 40 |
| January 17, 24 | 0 |
| July 10, 24 | 12* |
| July 13, 24 | DNB |
| July 14, 2024 | 58 |
| July 28, 2024 | 0 |
| July 30, 2024 | 0 |
| October 6, 24 | 29 |
| October 9, 24 | 10 |
| October 12, 2024 | 111 |
| November 8, 24 | 107 |
| November 10, 24 | 0 |
| November 13, 24 | 0 |
| November 15, 24 | 109* |
| January 22, 2025 | 26 |
| January 25, 2015 | 5 |
| January 28, 25 | 3 |
| January 31, 25 | 1 |
| February 2, 2025 | 16 |
| September 10, 25 | DNB |
| September 14, 25 | DNB |
| September 19, 25 | 56 |
| September 21, 25 | 13 |
| 24/9/25 | DNB |
| September 26, 25 | 39 |
| September 28, 25 | twenty 4 |
| October 29, 2025 | DNB |
| October 31, 25 | 2 |
| December 19, 2025 | 37 |
| January 21, 26 | 10 |
| January 23, 2026 | 6 |
| January 25, 2026 | 0 |
Sanju Samson’s dream of successful the 2026 T20 World Cup for India
So, who’s prepared to affix us for a storytime with this writer, Bey Bey? (See Adam Cole)
Samson’s abysmal efficiency within the five-match T20I sequence in opposition to the Black Caps has lastly led Gautam Gambhir’s crew administration to lose endurance and type a brand new opening pair for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
On Saturday, February 7, Abhishek Sharma will characteristic within the opening innings in opposition to the US alongside Ishan Kishan as a substitute of Sanju Samson. With this, Suryakumar Yadav will completely bat at quantity three, whereas the returning Tilak Varma will bat at quantity 4.
With a powerful batting unit and powerful bowling unit, India confirmed unbelievable dominance and defeated America, Namibia, Pakistan and Netherlands within the group stage.
The battle moved to the Tremendous Eights, the place Ishan Kishan, who was giving his all, failed in a couple of matches, resulting in requires Sanju Samson to return to the fold.
Nonetheless, in India’s final Tremendous Eights match and semi-final in opposition to Australia, Ishan Kishan hit again with sensational consecutive knocks. Kishan’s knock within the semi-final was pricey as he limped all through his innings.
On the day of the ultimate in opposition to South Africa, Suryakumar Yadav introduced Sanju Samson’s return to the squad on the final minute as a consequence of Ishan Kishan’s tirade.
Sanju Samson did a superb job behind the stumps and stepped onto the sector within the first innings whereas chasing 174 in opposition to a powerful Proteas assault. Regardless of Abhishek Sharma’s early fall, he seemed prickly within the midfield however one way or the other stayed on the crease.
With beneficiant assist from his captain, Samson lastly crossed the 50-run mark. However that is not all. Future has even greater plans for Sanju Samson. The LBW cheer continues within the nineteenth over. He seems to be calm, however the area umpire says no. South Africa will conduct the assessment and a 3rd umpire will likely be referred to as.
Samson one way or the other manages to keep away from being despatched off because of the umpire’s determination and India go into the ultimate over needing six runs with three balls remaining. Kagiso Rabada performs a powerful quick ball to Samson, however this time he’s prepared.
Samson performed essentially the most precious pull shot of his life and Ball scored a superb six as India clinched the T20 World Cup 2026 trophy. Within the commentary, Ravi Shastri as soon as once more repeats his iconic line, however this time the wicketkeeper-batsman shouldn’t be MS Dhoni. “It was Sanju who completed in type! A terrific shot in the direction of the group! India lifts the T20 World Cup!”
Additionally learn: Sanju Samson to play for West Indies in T20 World Cup? Darren Sammy performs hilarious antics
