Sanju Samson’s form under scrutiny after five low T20I scores

Sanju Samson finished India’s first T20I against Afghanistan with 10 runs, and that innings is the latest in a string of modest returns reported on September 15, 2026. The sequence has intensified attention on his place in India’s T20 setup following the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Samson’s international career, particularly in T20s, has long been framed by a tension between clear match-winning potential and intermittent returns. The debate over his inconsistency has gained weight as India’s T20I batting options multiply, yet Samson’s experience from the 2026 T20 World Cup-winning squad keeps him in selection conversations.

Sanju Samson scored 43 runs in his next 5 T20I matches following the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, compiling scores of 5, 0, 1, 27 and 10 across those innings. The right-arm batter has struggled to find traction in recent T20Is, a run of form that has reduced his scoring impact.

In the first T20I against Afghanistan he managed just 10 runs while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan turned out to be crucial in India’s seven-wicket win. Those contributions behind Samson’s single-figure score underlined the depth of India’s batting options in that match.

Discussion over selection has already intensified after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made the cut for the Indian squad in the T20I series against Afghanistan, increasing competition for batting places. Samson’s inconsistent scores have been cited as a reason why his spot in the lineup cannot be taken for granted.

Following his 10-run failure in the 1st T20I against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson’s participation in the second T20I is under uncertainty. The team’s immediate selection decision for the next match will determine whether he retains a place in the playing XI.