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.
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.'
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.
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
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.
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 will have a net session on Saturday evening, and Abhishek Sharma's fitness will be monitored closely before taking a final call.
What Abhishek should understand is that what defines a good cricketer is not the duck, but how he responds to it and overcomes it.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the opening match against USA?
Rajasthan Royals likely to trade Sanju Samson for CSK all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate says adding Sanju Samson to the top order is under discussion after the SA loss, reveals Abhishek's food poisoning battle.
Congress MP, Shashi Tharoor wished Sanju and Team India success, anticipating that the match would be a fitting climax to the series.
Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel urged India to include the in-form Ishan Kishan ahead of Sanju Samson
Is Abhishek Sharma struggling to cope with the expectations of playing in a World Cup in front of home fans?
Jasprit Bumrah missed India's opening T20 World Cup match against USA because of illness.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan?
Viswanathan added that Chennai's long-term roadmap guided the move.
Suryakumar Yadav defends Tilak Varma's batting approach in the T20 World Cup, explaining the team management's strategy for his role despite recent struggles against slow bowlers.
As Sanju Samson's IPL future remains to be a subject of intense debate, Rajasthan Royals are reportedly in advanced talks with Delhi Capitals for a swap deal involving South African Tristan Stubbs.
Ishan Kishan displayed the menacing form he has shown of late in the India nets on Wednesday until being hit by a sharp Jasprit Bumrah yorker.
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