Sanju Samson’s struggles continued as he failed to make an impact in Team India’s only T20 World Cup warm-up game against Bangladesh at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday, June 1. The wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed for a mere one run off six balls, leaving fans disappointed.
The dismissal occurred in the second over of India’s innings. Shoriful Islam delivered a swinging ball down the leg side that sharply moved towards the middle and leg stumps. Samson, attempting to guide it to fine leg, was beaten by the swing and was trapped lbw. He opted for a DRS call, but it wasn’t available for the warm-up fixture.
Despite a stellar IPL 2024 where Samson scored 531 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 153.47, including five half-centuries, his international form has been inconsistent. In T20Is, the right-hander has accumulated 374 runs in 25 games at a strike rate of 158.41, including one half-century.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to roast Sanju Samson for squandering his opportunity after being promoted as an opener in the warm-up game. One user wrote:
“Again Sanju Samson wasted his golden chance.”
Another user shared a hilarious meme to express their reaction, highlighting the frustration among fans.
One fan pointed out Samson’s inconsistency, stating:
“Every IPL is basically 2 months of you wondering why is Sanju Samson not in the Indian team. This feeling goes away the moment he plays the next international match.”
“I Knew That I Was Not Very Close to Being Selected” – Sanju Samson on Making India’s T20 World Cup Squad
Sanju Samson recently opened up about his emotional journey to being selected for India’s T20 World Cup squad. The 29-year-old expressed his gratitude and shared how his hard work in the IPL paid off. Speaking to Star Sports, he said:
“It was a very emotional one. It was something which I didn’t expect much actually to be very honest. I knew that I was not very close to being selected.”
He continued:
“I knew that I had to do something really special in this IPL to get there. That’s where I decided, I have to put my phone away. I think I am totally cut out from my phone. My phone is off for the last 2-3 months. I have to completely focus on my game.”
Samson added:
“I have to completely give myself the best chance to go out there and perform and win games for my team, so that it can help me get into the Indian team for the World Cup. Getting selected to the world’s best T20 team and that also for a World Cup actually deserves something special.”
India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5, and fans will be hoping that Samson can turn his fortunes around and deliver for the team on the big stage.
