'When you become desperate...': Ex-India captain slams Sanju Samson's poor form ahead of 3rd T20I vs NZ

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth feels that the selectors may drop Sanju Samson for the 2026 T20 World Cup if he continues his poor run of form. This comes after the wicketkeeper-batter lost his wicket cheaply for six runs against New Zealand in the second T20I. With Samson failing to capitalize, the returning Ishan Kishan made the most out of the opportunity and played a sensational knock of 76.

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Srikkanth remarked that Kishan's innings put even more pressure on Samson and questioned as to who will be benched once Tilak Varma returns during the T20 World Cup. Notably, Tilak had been ruled out of the ongoing T20I assignment against New Zealand due to injury, opening the doors for Kishan's return. However, he is expected to return for the T20 World Cup that begins from February 7.

"Now the question mark is what will you do when Tilak returns? Does Sanju Samson go out? Sanju is under pressure. He is looking desperate. Why are you becoming desperate?" Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Samson fails to deliver in 2nd T20I

Samson got dropped on the second delivery of India's innings against New Zealand in the 2nd T20I, but failed to make most out of the lifeline given to him and got dismissed just two balls later. Srikkanth believes that rather than going after the bowlers himself, Samson should have given the strike to Abhishek Sharma instead.

"When he was dropped once, he should have just taken a single. The mistake he did was he went after the bowling rather then giving strike to Abhishek. You got a six. Rotate the strike, get back your rhythm. He became desperate. And when you become desperate, you become greedy. This is what happens," Srikkanth stated.

"Now he (Samson) knows Ishan is scoring and is also a wicketkeeper, so that is going to put pressure on him. Now Gill can ask what he did, Shreyas is sitting out. The competition is so huge. Surya took some time and then got going. Sanju should have looked to do that," he added.

India aim to seal the series in 3rd T20I

Meanwhile, India have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. They won the second T20I comprehensively by seven wickets. The Kiwis failed to defend the target of 209 as stunning knocks from Kishan (76) and Suryakumar Yadav (82*) steered the Men in Blue to victory with 28 deliveries still left. The hosts will go on to seal the series if they end up emerging victorious in the third T20I that will be played on January 25 at the Barsapara stadium in Guwahati.