Sanju Samson, the Indian international cricketer, finds himself under renewed pressure ahead of the T20 World Cup, transforming his perceived role as a "nailed-on opener" into one fraught with uncertainty. Despite his undeniable talent and the elegance he brings to the crease, Samson's T20I career has been plagued by inconsistency.

Samson's recent performances in the T20I series against New Zealand have amplified concerns. In the first three matches, he accumulated a mere 16 runs, including a golden duck. This series of failures has occurred in batting-friendly conditions, increasing the scrutiny on his place in the team. While the rest of the Indian batting lineup displays confidence, Samson seems out of sync.

Over his 11-year T20I career, Samson has amassed 1,048 runs in 55 matches, maintaining a strike rate exceeding 147. However, this is tempered by his inconsistency, with only three fifties and three centuries, two of which were scored in South Africa in late 2024. His strike rates against formidable opponents reveal a concerning trend: 131 against Australia, 118 against England, and a further dip to 113 against New Zealand.

Since he began opening the batting in 2025, bowlers have begun exploiting his weaknesses. England's bowlers have adopted a strategy of delivering fast, short deliveries aimed at his body, leading to hurried, underpowered shots. In 2026, New Zealand's Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson complicated Samson's scoring ability by employing straight deliveries.

WV Raman, a former India opener, suggests that Samson's bat speed remains constant irrespective of the bowler's pace, causing issues against varying speeds. Raman emphasizes the need for Samson to adjust his bat speed to counter this.

Sanju Samson was included in India's T20 World Cup squad ahead of Shubman Gill. This decision displaced Samson from his preferred No. 1 position, where Gill partnered with Abhishek Sharma. Samson's performance suffered last year due to batting in different positions, averaging 20.18 with a 126.85 strike rate.

Ishan Kishan, a strong contender, is displaying excellent form, increasing the pressure on Samson. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Tilak Varma's absence gives Samson two more opportunities to prove himself. Morne Morkel, the bowling coach, remains optimistic, stating that Samson is close to regaining his form.

Priyank Panchal has drawn parallels between Samson's situation and Ambati Rayudu's exclusion from the 2019 World Cup squad. Panchal suggests that Samson cannot afford multiple failures close to the World Cup.

Samson acknowledged his disappointment at not playing in the 2024 T20 World Cup but expressed gratitude for being part of the squad. Despite the external pressures and scrutiny, Samson believes he is well-prepared, citing his stable batting record in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where he scored 531 runs in 16 matches.