Sanju Samson Needs Support, Not Pressure, Says Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly backed Sanju Samson and urged patience, saying selection depends on Abhishek Sharma’s fitness ahead of India vs Pakistan.

Sanju Samson faces pressure after several missed opportunities in recent matches. A fitness issue for Abhishek Sharma opened the door for his return against Namibia. Samson started strongly with three sixes. However, he failed to convert the start and scored 22. His place for the Pakistan match now depends on Abhishek’s recovery.

Samson was earlier seen as India’s first-choice opener for the T20 World Cup. However, the five-match India vs New Zealand T20I series changed plans. Ishan Kishan impressed at No. 3 and earned promotion to the top order.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly backed the current setup. He said India’s combination looks balanced. He added that Abhishek’s fitness will decide whether Samson retains his spot. Despite this, Ganguly has urged the team management to back Sanju Samson with a longer run. He stressed that players cannot perform freely when selection pressure looms after one or two failures.

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“India’s combination is strong and well-balanced, so there’s no need for major changes. Everything depends on Abhishek Sharma’s fitness. If Abhishek is fit to play, he may come in for Sanju, while the rest of the team should remain the same,” Ganguly told India Today.

“Sanju is a very good player and deserves consistent opportunities. No player can perform under constant pressure where two failures mean being dropped. It’s important to give him a longer run to maintain his form. After all, just over a year ago, he scored three centuries in T20Is. He has immense potential, and I hope he is given the time he deserves,” he added.

Since the start of 2025, Sanju Samson has managed only one fifty-plus score in T20Is, which came against Oman. He has struggled to deliver consistent returns with the bat.