Why Sanju Samson’s T20 World Cup Dreams Are Fading Fast

For over a decade, we have championed Sanju Samson as the “unlucky genius.” When he struck back-to-back T20I centuries in late 2024, it felt like the glass ceiling had finally shattered. But as we sit in February 2026, fresh off a 4-1 series win against New Zealand, that celebration feels like a distant memory.

Samson’s series aggregate of 46 runs in 5 innings (average 9.20) isn’t just a poor run—it’s a systemic collapse.

The ‘Eerie Pattern’: A Technical Autopsy

Former India opener Aakash Chopra recently used the word “eerie” to describe Samson’s dismissals, and he hit the nail on the head. In elite sport, a “bad patch” is usually a mix of good balls and bad luck. But a “pattern” is a roadmap for the opposition.

1. The Static Footwork

The most glaring technical discrepancy in Sanju’s current form is his laden back-foot. Experts like WV Raman have noted that Samson’s bat-speed remains constant regardless of the bowler’s pace.

The Glitch: Against bowlers around the 130 kmph mark, his natural hand-eye coordination compensates.
The Trap: When Matt Henry or Kyle Jamieson ramp it up to 140+ kmph or use variations, Sanju’s front foot remains stuck. He is neither fully forward nor deep enough back, leading to “hurried” shots.

2. Closing the Face Early

In the 5th T20I at Thiruvananthapuram—his own backyard—Samson fell for 6 while trying to muscle a ball across the line. This has become his trademark exit in 2026: closing the bat face too early. By going deep into the crease before the ball is delivered, he limits his own contact options.

Mental Block: The Weight of the 15-Year Wait

Is it just technique? If you ask Zubin Bharucha (RR High Performance Director), he argues it’s “all in the space between the ears.”

The mental pressure on Sanju is unique. Unlike a 21-year-old debutant, Sanju knows the “long rope” given to him by Gautam Gambhir has reached its end. Every dot ball feels like a ticking clock. When you see Ishan Kishan—the man literally waiting in the wings—smash a 43-ball 103 in the same series, that pressure becomes a physical weight.

The Comparison Table (NZ Series 2026)

Metric	Sanju Samson	Ishan Kishan
Total Runs	46	215
Average	9.20	53.75
Strike Rate	135.29	231.18
Wicketkeeping	Designated	Took over in 5th T20I

The “Home Ground” Signal

The most telling moment of the New Zealand series didn’t happen with the bat. In the 5th T20I, despite Sanju being the “designated” keeper on the team sheet, Ishan Kishan took the gloves for the second innings.

In the world of senior sports coverage, we call that a “Clear Signal.” It was the management’s way of signaling that for the World Cup opener against the USA on February 7, the Kishan-Abhishek Sharma opening duo is the chosen path.

Verdict: The End of the Road?

Sanju Samson is a victim of his own mercurial nature. He oscillates between world-class and average with no middle ground. In 2024, his brilliance won India games; in 2026, his inconsistency is a liability the defending champions cannot afford to carry into a World Cup.

The pattern isn’t just in his batting anymore—it’s in his career. Unless he finds a way to break this technical “closing of the face,” the 2026 New Zealand series will likely be remembered as the final chapter of Sanju Samson in blue.