Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has publicly backed wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, urging patience after a quiet international run that cost him a regular spot in the starting XI. Samson was named as India’s first-choice keeper-opener for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but lost his place following a lean T20I series against New Zealand and a brief cameo in Delhi against Namibia, where he made 22 off eight balls before departing.
With Ishan Kishan keeping wickets and opening in the early matches, Samson’s window for consistent runs has narrowed — something Ganguly thinks is unfair in a format that tolerates sporadic failure.
“Sanju is a very good player and deserves consistent opportunities,” Sourav Ganguly told India Today. “You can’t judge a skilled batter on two failures. Give him a run and he’ll repay the faith.”
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Ganguly pointed to Samson’s undeniable pedigree — the Kerala-bred talent has delivered big T20 scores in the past and slammed three international centuries in 2024 — arguing that short fuses and knee-jerk changes damage a player’s confidence more than help the side. His message was simple: selection policy should balance form with faith, especially when a batter has already shown the temperament and match-winning ability.
Selectors now face a tactical dilemma ahead of India’s key fixtures. If Abhishek Sharma is ruled out on fitness grounds, there has been talk of unconventional tweaks, including trying Washington Sundar as a makeshift opener.
Sourav Ganguly, however, prefers continuity. “If Abhishek is fit, he’ll come back in; otherwise, keep the rest steady,” he said, signalling his preference for minimal disruption.
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The debate encapsulates a larger tension in modern selection: back a player through rough patches or chase short-term results by chopping and changing. For Ganguly, Samson’s case is a reminder that time and trust often produce the returns teams need in crunch moments.
