Selection drama! 'If team management replaces Sanju Samson with Ishan Kishan ... ': Ex-India star speaks out

NEW DELHI: All eyes will be on Sanju Samson when India take on New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, with the wicketkeeper-batter under mounting pressure to deliver. Enduring a lean run and facing growing scrutiny, Samson will be hoping that passionate home support helps him rediscover form at a crucial stage of the series.


The right-hander has endured a difficult campaign against New Zealand, managing only 40 runs across four matches so far. With Samson part of India’s broader plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup, his struggles have triggered criticism from fans and experts alike, with some even questioning his place in the World Cup setup.



Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come out in Samson’s support, insisting that the batter deserves consistency in the order. Pathan felt Samson’s earlier shift to the middle order was unfair and stressed that he should be given a longer rope to find his rhythm.

While Pathan believes Samson should be backed, he also acknowledged that the team management’s decision to turn to Ishan Kishan would be understandable if runs continue to dry up.

"Personally, I would like to see Sanju Samson getting some runs and getting the position which he is there for a long period of time, because what happened was unfair to him, right? If Samson does not score runs and the team management replaces him with Ishan Kishan, you can understand that decision," Irfan Pathan told RevSportz.

Pathan also underlined the importance of having players such as Tilak Varma in the squad, praising the youngster’s temperament and ability to handle pressure situations. According to the former cricketer, Tilak adds balance and dependability to the batting unit, while also drawing praise for the way he has evolved his game.

Tilak was ruled out of the New Zealand series due to injury but is expected to recover in time for the World Cup, a boost for India as they look to fine-tune their combinations.

"I think this approach is really good, but I really think in this team, guys like Tilak Varma are very important. Because when there is pressure, or when the ball starts to grip, he will come into play, because he plays percentage cricket. In this team everyone plays aggressive, which is fantastic, but you need a player like Tilak Varma," Pathan added.

For Samson, Saturday’s contest offers a timely opportunity to silence critics and reinforce his place in India’s plans.




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