Sanju Samson Reflects on Opening Slot and Team Dynamics Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

In a recent interview, Sanju Samson opened up about his batting position and team dynamics following India's T20I series win against South Africa. After stepping in as an opener due to Shubman Gill's injury, Samson delivered a strong performance, raising questions about his future role in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. He emphasized the importance of clear communication within the team and dismissed any rumors of miscommunication. As he reflects on his journey and performance, fans are eager to see how he will fit into the team's strategy moving forward.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 20, 2025, 14:04 IST

Samson Speaks Out After Series Win

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has finally addressed the shift in his batting position, losing the opening slot to vice-captain Shubman Gill after the fifth T20I against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on December 20.

Samson stepped up to open the innings when Gill was sidelined due to a minor injury, delivering a remarkable performance with 37 runs off just 22 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes. He formed a solid 63-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma, helping India set a formidable total of 231/5. The bowlers then restricted South Africa to 201/8, securing a 30-run victory and clinching the series 3-1.

Clarifying Team Communication

In a post-match discussion with former cricketer and commentator Irfan Pathan, Samson was questioned about the communication within the team during his absence in the first three matches of the series.

He emphasized the significance of a cohesive team environment, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon. Samson assured that his communication with head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was transparent, dismissing any notions of miscommunication.

"The team environment is crucial as we approach a major tournament. I have been part of the system long enough to understand the intentions behind the decisions made by the leadership group," Samson remarked during the interview on JioHotstar.

Samson's Performance and Future Prospects

Samson was elevated to the opening position after Gill took a break from T20Is to focus on red-ball cricket. Across three T20I series against Bangladesh, South Africa, and England, he scored 417 runs in 12 matches, including three centuries, with an average of 37.90. However, Gill's return pushed Samson down the batting order, leading to his struggles in the middle order and subsequent exclusion from the playing XI in earlier series against Australia and South Africa.

Following his impressive comeback in the series decider, the question arose about his potential role as an opener in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. When asked by Pathan if he would continue to open, Samson humorously replied, leaving the decision to the team management.

Samson's T20I Career Highlights

Throughout his T20I career, the 31-year-old has accumulated 1,032 runs, including three centuries and two fifties, with an average of 25.8 over 52 matches. Notably, he reached the milestone of 1,000 T20I runs a decade after his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2015.