Sanju Samson's ongoing struggles raise serious alarms just weeks before the T20 World Cup — will he find his rhythm in time? But here's where it gets controversial: despite past performances and potential, his latest failure might signal a deeper concern for Team India. During the third T20I match against New Zealand in Guwahati on Sunday, Sanju Samson faced another disappointing dismissal, marking his third consecutive lackluster outing. He was dismissed for a golden duck in the very first ball of India's chase, which was set at 154 runs. Samson tried to flick a full-length delivery from New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, but the ball seamed in, brushed his thigh pad, and then knocked the off-stump, ending his innings immediately. This string of unsuccessful scores includes 10 and 6 in the previous two matches, highlighting a troubling pattern just as the major tournament approaches.
Henry, who is set to join Samson as a teammate at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming IPL season of 2026, was visibly elated after dismissing his future teammate, celebrating this crucial breakthrough. The recent poor form of Samson is causing concern among cricket fans and experts alike, especially with the T20 World Cup just around the corner, leaving little time for adjustment.
Meanwhile, India's bowling unit shined brightly in this match. Key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi, and Hardik Pandya delivered exceptional performances that dismantled New Zealand’s batting lineup. The BlackCaps could only manage 153/9 in their 20 overs, a target that India seemed poised to chase with confidence. Bumrah, back after a long break from international cricket, was the standout with an impressive haul of three wickets for just 17 runs. Ravi Bishnoi, returning to the squad after almost a year (replacing the rested Varun Chakravarthy), seized his opportunity with remarkable control, taking 2 wickets for 18 runs, especially excelling during the middle overs after Suryakumar Yadav had opted to bowl instead of a traditional spinner.
India's early push with the ball turned the game in their favor, reducing New Zealand to 36/3 by the end of the power play. Hardik Pandya’s effort was equally noteworthy, beginning with a stunning backward-running catch to dismiss Devon Conway for just 1 run in the opening over. He continued his impact by dismissing Rachin Rachin Rachin Ravindra (4), who mistimed a short ball and was caught at deep square leg by Bishnoi.
Bumrah’s immediate impact after coming on as the second change was a highlight of the match, as he struck for his third wicket. With this win, India increased their series lead to 2-0 out of a total of five encounters, leaving two matches remaining and a strong momentum heading into the looming showdown on the global stage.
(With PTI inputs)
