Former India spinner R Ashwin commented on Sanju Samson after the fourth T20I against New Zealand as well. The Indian team suffered a 50-run defeat as well. Sanju Samson scored 24 runs off 15 balls with three boundaries and a six. Unfortunately, his poor form continued as he could not convert the start
into a big score as well.
“If you are not a good player, you cannot reach here. When your mind is clouded with a lot of thoughts, it gets tough to pick the lengths and lines. I am very certain things are going on in his mind. We cannot make a slot for a player. It is not about running with a player and banking on it. It is also important to tell the player to take a break. Sometimes sitting outside and reflecting can make you a better player. I don’t agree that he should go back to the middle order. You cannot make a slot for a player, then everybody else will also rotate around it,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli
“They are bowling on the middle and leg to Sanju because he does not have a back and across movement. It is really getting to a point that it is pushing players. He has been pushed to a place where he has to show the bowlers something else. He is trying to do something because he is uncomfortable with the plan being dealt out to him. He has been pushed to a corner but he is willing to try. He is trying to respond. Maybe you will not get the result immediately. This might take time, but he is at least thinking to put pressure on the bowlers. That is a good sign. But he is going on a fine line and there is pressure with Ishan sitting in the dugout,” he shared.
With the Indian team playing fearless cricket, R Ashwin stated what opposition teams needed to do to control India during the T20 World Cup 2026 as well.
“This Indian team is playing fearless cricket. I think opponents will look to control the powerplay with the ball against India, like New Zealand did yesterday. The one way of knocking India back is controlling the powerplay. The team that can do that will put India under pressure. If they don’t plan differently, it could be good night very soon,” R Ashwin concluded.
