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Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar delivered a blunt assessment of Sanju Samson following the latter’s dismissal in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. Samson’s struggles continued as he managed just 24 runs, raising fresh questions about his place in India’s plans ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
India suffered a comprehensive defeat in the contest, with Gavaskar singling out Samson’s lack of footwork as a recurring technical flaw that cost him his wicket yet again.
Sunil Gavaskar points to Sanju Samson’s poor footwork against spin
Samson looked fluent early in his innings, striking 24 off 15 deliveries, before being dismissed by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. However, Gavaskar was unimpressed with the manner of the dismissal, highlighting a complete absence of foot movement.
“My first impression is that there was no footwork at all. He was just standing there, making room and playing through the offside,” Gavaskar said during commentary. “There was hardly any movement of the feet. Going outside leg-stump, exposing all three stumps, and when you miss, the bowler’s going to hit.”
Gavaskar added that it was not an isolated incident, pointing out that Samson had fallen in a similar fashion previously, making the dismissal all the more frustrating.
Samson’s form under scrutiny amid selection debate
The wicketkeeper-batter’s recent returns have done little to strengthen his case. Samson has scored just 40 runs across his last four T20I innings, a concerning statistic at a time when competition for batting spots is fierce.
With Ishan Kishan impressing consistently at No. 3, Samson’s place in the T20 World Cup squad is now firmly under scrutiny. Team management has shown patience, but repeated technical lapses have kept the spotlight firmly on the Kerala batter.
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New Zealand batters dominate in high-scoring encounter at Visakhapatnam
Earlier in the match, New Zealand laid a strong foundation after electing to bat. Explosive starts from Tim Seifert and Devon Conway set the tone, with the duo adding 100 runs in just 8.2 overs.
Seifert smashed a blistering 62 off 36 balls, while Conway chipped in with a rapid 44 off 23 deliveries. Although India clawed back during the middle overs through disciplined spells from Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, the damage had already been done.
Just as India seemed to be pulling things back, Daryl Mitchell provided the finishing touches with a powerful 39 off 18 balls. His late assault propelled New Zealand to an imposing total of 215 for seven, putting immense pressure on India’s chase.
In response, India showed flashes of promise but never truly threatened the target. Shivam Dube played a sensational cameo, hammering 65 off just 23 balls, while Rinku Singh contributed a steady 39 off 30 deliveries.
However, the lack of support from the top order, including Samson, proved costly. India were eventually bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, conceding a 50-run defeat.
