‘There is always a sword over his head’ – Former opener throws weight behind struggling Sanju Samson

The Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan debate is not stopping anytime soon. The under-fire opener Sanju Samson had a horrid series with the bat against New Zealand in a recently-concluded five-match series. 

He has received some support from former wicketkeeper batter Robin Uthappa ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The ex-Rajasthan Royals player believes that the Kerala batter is not out of form but is just struggling to score runs, just like India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 2025 form. 

“Form will always be temporary, be it Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, or Rohit Sharma. When you are a cricketer of that calibre, I don’t think the form of Sanju Samson is an issue. Even Suryakumar Yadav wasn’t out of form. It’s just that he didn’t play in one position long enough. The kind of player Samson is, when he comes off in tandem with Abhishek Sharma, they look like a million bucks. That energy is insane,” he said while talking on CommBox TV YouTube channel.

He further stated that, there is always a pressure on Samson’s place in the playing XI, and hence he has not been able to score regularly.

“Yes, he has got the opportunities and not performed in them. But there has also always been a sword over his head that if he doesn’t perform, there is someone waiting for his spot. There has never been a time where he just goes and bats. When they’ve given him that chance to just go and bat and do your thing, he has done well,” he said.

Samson had a poor series against the Black Caps, managing to score just 46 runs at an average less than 10 runs.

Uthappa urges India to back Samson

The 40-year-old further advised team management to back the struggling opener in the T20 World Cup, while continuing with Ishan Kishan at No. 3 even if injured Tilak Varma gets match fit.

“He has got the opportunities, but as I said about Surya, in any World Cup, you will carry one player. I was saying Carry Surya if that’s required because when he comes off, he’ll win you matches like he’s winning now in the New Zealand series. The same applies for Sanju Samson. Carry him and stick with him. Keep Ishan Kishan at No.3. But if Tilak gets ready, then play your best 11,” said Uthappa.

Kishan, who marked his return to the Indian team after a gap of more than two years, had a brilliant series with the bat, and ended the series with a match-winning century in the final T20I.