Home
Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin warned the team management against dropping Sanju Samson after a few underwhelming performances in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. He feels that the atmosphere in the dressing room would also take a hit if that happens. This comes after Ishan Kishan played a match-winning knock of 76 in the second T20I, leading to questions around Samson's place in the team.
“It’s way too early to think of dropping him. If India keeps doing such circus acts by playing Sanju when he did well before, and now Kishan because he’s playing well now, I don’t have to tell how it’ll end for India. It’s not ideal inside the dressing room. There is a lot of competition for places, but it’s too early for this change," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
ALSO READ: Big news: No place for Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf as Pakistan announce squad for T20 World Cup
Ashwin further said that it will be very "unfair" for Samson to get dropped after having just made his return to the opening spot. He also pointed out that the latter lost his wicket while trying to play an attacking shot and shouldn't be punished for trying to be a team man.
“It’ll be very unfair. This opening combination has been reverted only for the last two games. A player has got out playing an attacking shot. If you penalize him for that and bench him, how will you witness the best of that player? It wasn’t that there was a rush of blood or that he wasn’t calm. He just saw the ball and went for it. That’s how you should instinctively bat, but it just didn’t go his way," Ashwin stated.
Samson's performance vs NZ so far
Samson has had two disappointing outings against New Zealand in the ongoing T20I series. He recorded scores of 10 and 6 in the first and second T20I respectively after returning as India's opener. He had spent months batting in the middl;e-order after Shubman Gill was brought back into the team during 2025 Asia Cup. However, his performance hasn't been anything special since returning to his favourite spot. It remains to be seen if the 30-year-old batter from Kerala will be able to pick up his form in the upcoming third T20I.
India with a chance of sealing the series
Meanwhile, India will be facing-off against New Zealand in the third T20I of the series on February 25. The match will be held at the Barsapara stadium in Guwahati and will see the Men in Blue have a chance of sealing the series. They are already 2-0 ahead in the assignment and will be aiming to make it three wins in a row.
ADVERTISEMENT
