Samson in the Crosshairs: Uthappa Says “Carry Him” Despite Kishan’s 100-Run Explosion
MUMBAI — The numbers are ugly, but the support is loud. As the Men in Blue gear up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sanju Samson finds himself walking a tightrope without a safety net. The 31-year-old opener has endured a nightmare start to the 2026 season, scraping together just 46 runs in five matches against New Zealand. Yet, amidst the clamor to bench him for the red-hot Ishan Kishan, former India star Robin Uthappa has dropped a controversial take: Samson isn’t broken, he’s just unlucky.
The Slump vs. The Surge
You can’t hide from the scoreboard. While India celebrated a dominant 4-1 series victory over the Kiwis, Samson was a ghost at the top of the order. He averaged under 10, failing to cross the 30-run mark even once. This follows a rocky 2025 where his average dipped below 21. It’s a far cry from his 2024 heroics, where he averaged 43.60 and struck at over 180.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan is kicking the door down. Batting at No. 3, the southpaw smashed the New Zealand attack, averaging nearly 54 with a mind-boggling strike rate of 231.18. Fans are already drawing up the lineup: Abhishek Sharma and Kishan to open, Samson to the bench. It makes sense on paper, but Uthappa insists cricket isn’t played on paper.
“Form will always be temporary… When you are a cricketer of that calibre, I don’t think the form of Sanju Samson is an issue. Even Suryakumar Yadav wasn’t out of form. It’s just that he didn’t play in one position long enough.” — Robin Uthappa, via CommBox TV
The “Million Dollar” Gamble
Uthappa’s argument hinges on “X-factor” over raw stats. He believes the chemistry between Samson and young gun Abhishek Sharma is electric when it clicks. “They look like a million bucks,” Uthappa argued. His advice to the selectors is blunt: “Carry him and stick with him.”
He drew a parallel to Suryakumar Yadav, suggesting that every World Cup winning team “carries” one match-winner through a rough patch because the payoff is worth the risk.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
This debate has a ticking clock attached to it. Tilak Varma is injured but expected to return soon. If Samson doesn’t find his touch in the warm-ups, the “best 11” philosophy might force the management’s hand.
- Scenario A: Samson stays. He opens with Sharma, and Kishan fights for the No. 3 spot or sits.
- Scenario B: The Axe Falls. Kishan moves up to open (left-left combination with Sharma), and the middle order reshuffles to accommodate Varma’s return.
