In the fifth and final T20I between India and England on Sunday, February 2, it was the visitors who won the toss and chose to field first in what effectively became a dead-rubber match. India, already leading the series, came out with an aggressive intent in which Sanju Samson made no bones about making his impact felt early on. Samson started aggressively against Jofra Archer in the opening over by hitting two sixes, racing to 16 runs and setting an explosive start for the team.

However, such a promising innings was cut short within the next over only by falling into the now-familiar trap. Mark Wood, who missed the fourth T20I, returned for this match and bowled a short-pitched ball that Samson had a try of pulling. Once again, the pull shot proved to be his downfall, as he mistimed his stroke and offered a straightforward catch to Jofra Archer at the boundary.
WATCH – Mark Wood Exposes Sanju Samson’s Short-Ball Struggles Yet Again
This dismissal has become an unfortunate pattern in Samson’s game—bowlers have identified his vulnerability against the short ball and continue to exploit it. While the dismissal of Samson was a disappointment, India continued to dominate, reaching 100 runs in just seven overs with the loss of only one wicket.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 2, 2025
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 2, 2025
However, his struggles in this series have been a cause for concern. He had been arguably India’s best T20I batter in 2024, but 2025 has begun on a sour note.
WATCH – Jos Buttler’s Toss Drama: England Captain’s Sharp Dig at India Over Impact Sub Controversy
Across the five-match series, he has scored only 51 runs and this is among the lowest by an Indian batsman in the T20I format. Even KL Rahul had scored a poorer 15-run series in 2021. As the match progressed, India continued their aggressive approach, seeking to capitalize on their strong start and put up a challenging total against England’s bowling attack.