Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has thrown his weight behind struggling seamer Abhishek Sharma and expressed confidence that the young left-hander can turn things around and deliver in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand.
IND vs ENG T20 WORLD CUP 2026: MAIN | SCORECARD
Abhishek Sharma’s World T20 innings hit a new low during the semi-final against England where he was dismissed for just nine runs off seven balls. For the second time in the tournament, the young left-hander fell victim to the off-spin of Will Jacks, highlighting what appears to be a recurring technical vulnerability against this type of bowling.
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Still, faith in the young batter remains intact in the Indian dressing room. Samson insisted that the team continues to support Abhishek and believes that the turnaround could come at the biggest moment of the tournament.
“We have a great atmosphere in the dressing room. Our leaders have a lot of faith in Abhishek and we all support him. Every player goes through ups and downs. It can take a few good shots in the middle and everything can change in this format. We still believe in him and who knows – maybe it will be his day in the final,” Sanju Samson told reporters after the second Mu semi-final.
Despite entering the knockout stage with high expectations after a promising run into the tournament, the pressure of the global stage seems to have hit hard at the start. His tournament highlight so far remains a 55 runs against Zimbabwe in Super 8 stage – notably the second-slowest half-century of his career – which stood in contrast to the explosive reputation he had built in the format.
Abhishek continued to garner strong support from the Indian team management as well as a section of the fans, even after a disastrous group stage in which he scored three ducks. However, his inability to recalibrate his aggressive batting approach during the tournament gradually began to test that patience.
In seven matches, the left-hander managed just 85 runs at an average of 14.16 with a strike rate of 132.81. Apart from his half-century against Zimbabwe, he struggled to find some rhythm in the competition. His campaign began worryingly with successive ducks against the United States, Pakistan and the Netherlands and he has been unable to build any meaningful momentum since then.
While Abhishek endured a tough tournament, Samson himself admitted that he too went through a tough phase earlier in the lead-up to the World Cup. The wicket-keeper batsman revealed that the pressure to secure a place in India’s playing XI led him to go overboard during the home T20I series against New Zealand.
“HE TRIED TOO MUCH IN THE NZ SERIES”
Samson endured a difficult run in the series which eventually saw Ishan Kishan move ahead of him in the order to open alongside Abhishek Sharma at the start of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
However, the team management later brought Samson back into the playing eleven to break the left-hander’s order in the batting order and the Kerala batsman has been making the opportunity count ever since.
In the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium against England, he followed up an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies with a blistering match-winning knock of 89 off just 42 balls against England.
Reflecting on his time trying to cement his place in the side, Samson admitted the pressure to make an impression ahead of the World Cup affected his approach.
“I think it was very challenging for me. I definitely wanted to come and do what I’m trying to do for the country now, contribute and win matches in the (T20) World Cup,” Samson, who also scored an unbeaten 97 in the previous match against West Indies, told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
“But I think I tried a bit too hard in the New Zealand series. I wanted to make an impact and get into the World Cup (playing) XI here,” he added.
“But I think this cricket (T20) can be very entertaining. Even the best in the world are actually trying to score in this format,” he added.
Samson’s return to form proved crucial in India’s dramatic semi-final win over England on Thursday. Riding on his sublime innings and Jasprit Bumrah’s spell that bordered on the exceptional, the defending champions held their nerve to secure a seven-run win and secure their place in the final.
Samson’s 89 off 42 balls came after he survived an early challenge from Jofra Archer, finally finding his rhythm to power India to a mammoth 253 for seven – the highest total ever recorded in a knockout match in the history of the tournament.
England mounted a blistering counter-attack during the chase, led by Jacob Bethell, who smashed a brilliant 105 off just 48 deliveries after the visitors slumped to 68 for three in the over.
However, India held their nerve in the closing stages. Bumrah’s exceptional control in the death overs – finishing with figures of 1 for 33 from four overs – proved decisive England were restricted to 246 for seven from their 20 overs.
The win booked India a place in the T20 World Cup final where they will face New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with the defending champions now one step away from retaining the title.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
March 6, 2026 05:59 IST
