IND vs ENG: Veteran Commentator Fears Sanju Samson Fan Army, Avoids Talking About His Batting Struggles

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has refrained from openly criticizing Sanju Samson despite the wicketkeeper-batter’s poor run in the T20I series against England. Chopra admitted that Samson has been struggling with the same mode of dismissal but chose not to speak much about it, fearing backlash from his strong fan following.

“Samson is getting out in the same fashion, but I don’t want to upset Sanju’s fan army at all,” said Chopra on air, acknowledging the sensitivity around discussing Samson’s form.

Samson’s Disappointing Series Against England

Samson, who was given the opportunity to open the innings in this series, has failed to make an impact. The right-hander had a fantastic 2024, scoring three T20I centuries—one against Bangladesh and two against South Africa—but he failed to carry that momentum into the England series.

In five matches, he has managed only 51 runs, crossing double digits just twice. His struggle against short-pitched deliveries has been evident, as he has been dismissed in a similar fashion in all five innings—while attempting the pull shot. Jofra Archer dismissed him three times, while Saqib Mahmood and Mark Wood took his wicket once each.

Concerns Over Samson’s Weakness Against Short Ball

Chopra further pointed out that Samson has been struggling against the short ball and frequently finds fielders in the deep while playing the pull shot. This has now become a visible weakness that opposition bowlers can exploit.

“The worst part about Samson’s dismissals is that he has been getting out the same way in all five innings, which exposes his inability to handle the short ball,” Chopra added.

Injury Adds to Uncertainty Over IPL Participation

To make matters worse, Samson injured his thumb while batting in the final T20I against England at Wankhede. Due to this, he did not take the field in the second innings, with Dhruv Jurel keeping wickets in his absence.

India still secured a dominant 150-run victory, but concerns remain over Samson’s fitness. As of now, there has been no official update on his injury, raising doubts over his availability for IPL 2025, where he leads Rajasthan Royals.