Sanju Samson's return to the XI lasted just 15 balls on Wednesday night as India's high-stakes Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at Chepauk took an early
twist.
Opening the innings, Samson began fluently, striking a towering six off Blessing Muzarabani and helping India to 13 in the first over. He raced to 24 off 15 balls, briefly injecting momentum into a must-win contest where net run-rate looms large. But the cameo ended abruptly in the fourth over, with Muzarabani striking back to dismiss him as India slipped to 48/1 in 3.4 overs.
The dismissal once again spotlighted Samson's inconsistent T20I returns. At Chepauk, a venue where his numbers have historically been modest, the right-hander failed to convert a brisk start into a statement innings - something India desperately needed given the qualification equation.
On X, reactions were swift and divided.
One user described it as a "ceremonial 20ish by Sanju Samson. "
Another wrote: "Sanju Samson falls after a promising start and the Cheapuk crowd is stunned! Muzarabani is pumped, Zimbabwe here, Again failed to convert the the start into a big one"
ceremonial 20ish by Sanju Samson.
- NoCoSaL (@NoCoSaL) February 26, 2026
Sanju Samson falls after a promising start and the Cheapuk crowd is stunned!
Muzarabani is pumped, Zimbabwe here, Again failed to convert the the start into a big one pic.twitter.com/9vHPSGDVYD- CricPal (@AnupPalAgt) February 26, 2026
Criticism grew sharper as fans revisited his recent record. "Sanju Samson should consider himself lucky to even get 2 chances in this T20WC, yet he didn't capitalize on it properly. 22 vs NAM 24 vs ZIM today," read one post.
Another user shared a detailed breakdown of his last 18 T20I innings, concluding: "This fraud is failing against Zimbabwe as well, don't know how he is still playing. "
Sanju Samson should consider himself lucky to even get 2 chances in this T20WC, yet he didn't capitalize on it properly.
22 vs NAM
24 vs ZIM today- Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) February 26, 2026
🚨 Sanju Samson in his last 18 T20i inning:
- Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) February 26, 2026
26(20), 5(7), 3(6), 1(3), 16(7), 56(45), 13(17), 39(23), 24(21), 2(4), 37(22), 10(7), 6(5), 0(1), 24(15), 6(6), 28(8), 24(15)*
- 18 AVG,
- 129 SR.
- This fraud is failing against Zimbabwe aswell, don't know how he is still playing.🤡 pic.twitter.com/gj4Ihu133X
For India, the stakes extend beyond one wicket. With qualification hinging on both results and net run-rate, starts need to be converted into match-defining knocks. On a night where every run could shape their semi-final fate, Samson's 24 felt brisk but set the tone for the Indian squad to amplify.
