“One Knock Away”: Morne Morkel Defends Sanju Samson Despite Poor Run Ahead of IND vs NZ 4th T20I

India bowling coach Morne Morkel has thrown his weight behind Sanju Samson ahead of the fourth T20I against New Zealand, signalling that the team management remains confident in the wicketkeeper-batter despite his recent struggles.

Opening alongside Abhishek Sharma in the series, Samson has endured a difficult run, scoring just 16 runs across three matches, with a top score of 10. While other top-order batters such as Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have dominated the New Zealand bowling attack, Samson has failed to make a significant impact so far.

However, Morkel suggested that the Kerala batter continues to enjoy strong support within the squad.

"Sanju is one knock away from getting that confidence, getting that form back.

For us, building up to the World Cup it's important for the guys to find that peak performance at the right time. He's training well, he's hitting the ball very well," Morkel said on the eve of the match.

Samson's commitment was evident during India's optional net session at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, where he spent over half an hour working on his batting. He faced a variety of bowlers, including Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma and side-arm bowler Raghu. Though he appeared tentative initially, Samson gradually found his rhythm and began striking the ball fluently, regularly finding the boundary.

Following his net session, Samson was seen in an extended conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, with the coaches discussing technical aspects of his game. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer continued his own practice nearby.

Morkel also emphasised that individual form should not overshadow the bigger picture of team success.

"So, I think it's just a matter of time for him to get his foot on the board. But the main focus is that the team is winning, and I think that's important. We're 3-0 up in this series at the moment, the boys are playing some very good cricket. "We've got a couple of games now before the start of the World Cup, and I have no doubt that Sanju will find his form," he added.

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, currently hold a 3-0 lead in the five-match series, with the fourth T20I scheduled for January 28 in Vizag. With the series already in hand, the match could offer Samson a crucial opportunity to rediscover his form ahead of the T20 World Cup.