Sanju Samson's quickfire 24 off 15 gave India a flying start against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup Super 8 clash, drawing mixed reactions from fans and praise from Irfan Pathan and Dinesh Karthik.
Opener Sanju Samson once again failed to get back among the runs, as he was dismissed for 24 from 15 balls in the fourth T20I against New Zealand.
I would like to see Axar Patel, Sanju Samson coming back: Parthiv Patel on India's do-or-die Zimbabwe clash
Suryakumar Yadav lightens India's arrival in Thiruvananthapuram with playful banter as Sanju Samson returns home ahead of the final T20I against New Zealand.
Yuzvendra Chahal says Sanju Samson can have no excuses after repeated T20I failures, with Ishan Kishan's form putting pressure on the opener ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Sanju Samson seeks revival with home support as India manage injuries and combinations against New Zealand in the final T20I before the World Cup.
With Ishan Kishan breathing down Sanju Samson's neck, the latter will have to pull up his socks and prove his place in the squad.
India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav along with four other members of the team went on a jungle safari in the Pench Tiger Reserve on Monday ahead of the opening match of the five-game series with New Zealand beginning at Nagpur on January 21.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the must-win match against Zimbabwe on Thursday?
In the fifth T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram, Ishan Kishan produced an innings that may well have changed the course of his career.
Former India opener WV Raman and RR's Zubin Bharucha analyse Sanju Samson's T20I struggles, breaking down technical and mental aspects of his batting.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Friday acknowledged that Sanju Samson has been going through a lean phase without doubting the quality of the struggling batter, and reiterated the team management's support for him.
Sanju Samson tallied just 46 runs in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Sanju Samson received a big vote of confidence as bowling coach Morne Morkel said the opener was just one knock away from breaking free from a lean run.
Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan face a key test as India take on New Zealand in the second T20I at Raipur, eyeing World Cup momentum.
Ishan Kishan's sensational comeback and Sanju Samson's inconsistent displays with the bat will reignite debate over who should be Abhishek Sharma's preferred opening partner.
India will be hoping for a positive turn in their spinners' performance while attempting to extend the total domination over New Zealand to the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
Sanju Samson boasts of a superb record in T20 Internationals, with 995 runs in 51 matches at a strike rate of 147.40, including three centuries and as many fifties.
Sanju Samson's T20I future took another hit on Tuesday as India benched him yet again, favouring the finishing skills of Jitesh Sharma in a team that now appears fully committed to its Shubman Gill-led blueprint.
'Jitesh Sharma has shown he is quite a capable player. He can bat lower down the order and look to hit the big shots even with a slightly older ball.'
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addresses concerns about Abhishek Sharma's form and hints at possible changes in the batting order for the crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Zimbabwe.
A toe injury suffered before the fourth T20I is set to keep Gill out of the final T20I here as India would want to take a cautious route, more so when there is a ready replacement for the top order slot in Sanju Samson.
If starting with Jitesh Sharma in the last three T20s in Australia felt like an experiment, his selection over fellow wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson in the series opener against South Africa provided ample clarity over team management's thought process going in to the World Cup at home.
Tilak Varma says India will continue their aggressive batting approach in the T20 World Cup, aiming to put pressure on opposition bowlers even if they lose early wickets. He also praised Sanju Samson's contribution and highlighted Gautam Gambhir's motivational role.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will turn 45 later this year, will be available for CSK for IPL 2026 starting next month, a top franchise source confirmed.
"We are only here for a short period....": Samson bids farewell to RR after trade to CSK
Abhishek, Hardik help India pulverise Zimbabwe by 72 runs; stay in semis race
Sunil Gavaskar praises Abhishek Sharma's half-century against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup, highlighting his improved composure and learning from previous setbacks.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar anticipates leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav replacing pacer Arshdeep Singh in the crucial T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, citing favorable conditions for spinners and strategic bowling decisions in recent games.
Jitesh Sharma, who has emerged as India's preferred wicketkeeper-batter in T20 format with less than two months left for the World Cup, has played down his 'competition' with Sanju Samson in the squad, saying it only brings out his "A-game" to the fore, strengthening the side.
It is believed that captain Sanju Samson has asked Rajasthan Royals to trade him or release him into the auction, signalling an end to his long association with the franchise.
A rampant India piled up a record total and handed Zimbabwe a 72run shellacking in a Super Eight contest on Thursday to revive their Twenty20 World Cup title defence.
India crushed Namibia by 93 runs in the T20 World Cup, powered by Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, but concerns remain ahead of the Pakistan clash.
India and West Indies clash in a high-stakes virtual quarter-final on Sunday, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
India will have a net session on Saturday evening, and Abhishek Sharma's fitness will be monitored closely before taking a final call.
Rajasthan Royals likely to trade Sanju Samson for CSK all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran
India faces Zimbabwe in a crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 match, needing a big win to improve their net run rate after a heavy loss to South Africa. The team needs to address issues in the top order and consider strategic changes to the batting lineup.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the opening match against USA?
What Abhishek should understand is that what defines a good cricketer is not the duck, but how he responds to it and overcomes it.
Congress MP, Shashi Tharoor wished Sanju and Team India success, anticipating that the match would be a fitting climax to the series.
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