IND vs NZ 2026: ‘He keeps getting out cheaply’ - Ex-India opener concerned with Sanju Samson's underwhelming batting form

Former India opener and commentator Aakash Chopra believes Sanju Samson may still be given additional opportunities in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, even as the wicketkeeper-batter is struggling for runs. Samson’s poor run, including a golden duck in the third T20I, has once again put his spot in the playing XI in jeopardy after regaining it from Shubman Gill.

Samson’s performances in the series so far have been extremely disappointing, and his place in the side has been heavily debated following a series of underwhelming returns with the bat. With comeback man Ishan Kishan impressing with the bat and competition for the keeper-batter slot intense, the Kerala cricketer's position in the squad has become a talking point.

Speaking in the context of India’s squad and upcoming matches, Chopra has suggested that the team management might be inclined to give Samson one or two more games, following Tilak Varma's exclusion from the last two T20Is due to failing to recover in time.

"Tilak Varma might not be available for these two games, which means he will join the team before the World Cup, which is a great thing actually, because Sanju Samson will get two more opportunities here. Now you will see both Sanju and Ishan Kishan playing. One of the games is at Sanju's home. It is in Thiruvananthapuram," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"It was necessary for him to get two more chances because if we hadn't pivoted in the Asia Cup and Sanju had kept opening, he might not have been feeling this pressure at this time, because it's unfair. If he had kept opening, either you would have become a hero or gone out. So good news for Sanju and his fans that there are two more games," he added.

The renowned commentator further stated that the 31-year-old has been provided with enough chances to prove his talent, and nobody should question that. However, he also pointed out that when the wicketkeeper-batter starts failing, he develops a pattern of getting out with a string of low scores, which eventually impacts the team's stability at the top.

"Nobody can actually argue or complain that full chances weren't given, although the truth is that Sanju is struggling. We are seeing that clearly. He is going deep into the crease and getting beaten and out to full deliveries. It's happened in three consecutive innings. This happens with Sanju. When he gets out, he keeps getting out cheaply," the Agra-born concluded.

After clinching the series 3-0 already, the Indian team is scheduled to play the fifth and final match of the series at Sanju Samson’s hometown, Thiruvananthpuram, before playing the fourth encounter in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, January 28.