India's second match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a reshuffle at the top of the batting order as Abhishek Sharma missed the clash against Namibia due to illness.
The dynamic opener had been hospitalised for two days after suffering a stomach infection. Although he appeared to be recovering and was seen around the ground before the match, the team management opted against rushing him back, allowing Sanju Samson an opportunity to feature in the playing XI.
Samson's international career in white-ball cricket has often been defined by dramatic highs and sudden lows. His recall to the Indian side in 2024 had signalled strong faith from the selectors, and he responded with remarkable performances. During that phase, Samson created history
by becoming the first Indian batter to score back-to-back T20I centuries, achieving the feat against Bangladesh in Hyderabad and South Africa in Durban. Across a five-match span, he accumulated three centuries, though the remaining two innings in that period resulted in ducks, highlighting the unpredictable nature of his form.
His T20 World Cup debut against Namibia offered another glimpse into his explosive batting style, though only for a brief spell. Samson began cautiously, taking three deliveries to get off the mark. However, he quickly shifted momentum with aggressive strokeplay. Ruben Trumpelmann overpitched, and Samson launched the ball straight down the ground for a six. He continued the assault in the following over by smashing Ben Shikongo for consecutive sixes, including a powerful pull shot that completed a trio of maximums.
The wicketkeeper-batter further showcased his attacking approach with a crisp boundary that took him to 22 runs from just seven balls. His clean striking underlined why he is considered a valuable asset in India's batting line-up, particularly in high-scoring T20 contests.
However, Samson's promising innings ended abruptly. Attempting to flick a full delivery, he mistimed the shot and lofted the ball towards deep midwicket, bringing his stay at the crease to a premature end. The sequence perfectly illustrated the ongoing discussion around his consistency.
While Samson once again displayed his ability to change the game rapidly, the challenge of converting such explosive starts into match-defining innings continues to remain a talking point in his international career.
