Ranchi: India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson made a roaring return to form with a blistering 82 off 41 balls in the second T20I against the West Indies, putting an end to a string of low scores. Speaking at the mid-innings break, the 31-year-old took full responsibility for his recent slump, refusing to blame anyone else while emphasizing a team-first approach.
Sanju Samson had entered the Ranchi fixture under intense scrutiny following scores of 9, 7, 2, and 11 in his previous four T20I outings, despite having struck two half-centuries in the preceding series against Afghanistan. His quickfire knocked helped India post a mammoth 249/5 in 20 overs.
When asked by commentator Daren Ganga if he had altered his approach after the recent failures, Samson insisted that nothing had changed in his preparation or mindset.
“Nothing. I don’t think so. Being a professional cricketer playing for India, you take care of the professional side of it. You do your preparation, practice, and training—everything possible in your hands. But in this format, the result is not in your hands; there is only one way to go,” Samson told the broadcaster.
“You can’t say ‘I’ve had a bad three innings, so let’s take some time, build my innings, and then see.’ My job is to give my country a great start, and I try to do that. I also take responsibility when I get out. I don’t blame anyone else for not scoring runs; that’s my job, and I try to do it every time I step out,” he added.
Samson, who was named Player of the Series during India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign earlier this year, faced renewed competition following the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The team management rotated between Sooryavanshi and Samson before choosing to persist with the combination.
A notable trend in 2026 shows that every time Samson has faced at least 15 balls in a T20I innings, he has successfully reached a half-century. However, the Ranchi game marked the first instance this year where his fifty ended up in a losing cause, as the West Indies chased down the 250-run target with six wickets in hand and nine balls to spare.
Reflecting on his batting philosophy, Samson reiterated the importance of staying clear-headed and trusting his instincts.
“I just try to look at the ball and have a very positive frame of mind. If the ball is in my area, I definitely go for it. I don’t like to get premeditated. I just like to watch the ball and back my instincts,” he said.
