IND vs NZ 2026: Sanju Samson’s Duck in Guwahati Puts T20 World Cup 2026 Spot Under Scanner

Sanju Samson’s struggles continued on Wednesday as he was dismissed for a first-ball duck in India’s chase of 154 in the third T20I against New Zealand in Guwahati.

The right-hander was bowled by Matt Henry while moving across the crease, missing a shot aimed towards the leg side. It was a soft end to his innings and summed up a tough run in the series.

This was Samson’s third straight failure with the bat in the ongoing five-match T20I series. He scored 10 in the first match, followed by 6 in the second, before the golden duck in Guwahati.

The poor returns come at an awkward time for Sanju Samson, who was preferred over Shubman Gill for the New Zealand series and also for India’s provisional squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

India had backed Samson after his 37 in the final T20I against South Africa earlier this season, an innings that played a key role in him earning World Cup selection. Since then, though, the runs have dried up.

With World Cup squads allowed to be changed up to a week before the tournament, Samson’s place is no longer looking secure. Selectors now have time and options, and his form is likely to be closely watched over the remaining matches.

There is already talk that Samson could be benched for the fourth T20I. In that case, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma are expected to open, while Tilak Varma, returning from surgery, is also in contention for a top-order slot.

India’s dominant win in Guwahati may have sealed the series, but Samson’s personal battle is far from over. With the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka starting on February 7, competition for batting spots is intense and consistency is becoming non-negotiable.