'Look At Suryakumar Yadav': Suresh Raina Backs Sanju Samson Amid Batting Struggles

Sanju Samson has been experiencing a challenging period recently. He reclaimed his position as an opener after the selectors dropped Shubman Gill for the New Zealand T20Is and the subsequent T20 World

Cup 2026 at home. However, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter has struggled to capitalize on the opportunity against the Black Caps in the ongoing 5-match series.

In his last 4 innings, Sanju scored 10, 6, 0, and 24, respectively, against New Zealand. It has indeed been a tough 12 months for him with the bat. His last significant score was a century against South Africa in Johannesburg on November 24. He managed a fifty against Oman in the Asia Cup last year, but since then, he has found it difficult to achieve a decent score.

Despite his inconsistency, Sanju has received support from the team management. Additionally, former India batter Suresh Raina has expressed confidence in the wicketkeeper-batter to perform well in the T20 World Cup.

Raina, the first and only Indian to score a century in the T20 World Cup, has backed Sanju Samson to become the second Indian cricketer to achieve this feat in the prestigious tournament.

“Sanju Samson can be in that list,” Raina stated when asked about potential century-scorers for India in the T20 World Cup 2026.

“He opens the batting and has the ability to score 100. He has already scored two centuries in South Africa. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are also strong contenders. But I believe Sanju can make a century in this T20 World Cup,” he added.

Raina also drew parallels to Suryakumar Yadav, who was out of form in 2025 but received consistent backing from the team management and eventually regained his form.

“I think form is temporary. Sanju has that class. He has performed over the years, whether playing for India or not. He has scored a lot of runs in T20 cricket. Look at Suryakumar Yadav; he hadn’t scored runs for almost a year, but the coach still supported him. I think the same will be true for Sanju. If he gets a chance, he will definitely perform well,” Raina remarked.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala is part of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad for the 20-team tournament starting February 7, and he is likely to open the innings alongside world No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma.

Samson has scored three centuries for India in 55 T20I matches so far, and Raina believes that the right-handed batter can join him in the special club this time around.