Former India great Sunil Gavaskar didn’t mince words after watching Sanju Samson’s brief but explosive cameo in India’s 93-run win over Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Gavaskar flagged a technical flaw in Samson’s approach — one that, if not corrected, could be exposed by high-quality new-ball bowling in the big games ahead.

Samson came in for Abhishek Sharma when the left-hander was unavailable, and immediately looked intent on putting pressure on the bowlers. He struck three sixes in an eight-ball cameo that gave the scoreboard a much-needed jolt, yet the innings ended as quickly as it began when a slower delivery from Ben Shikongo edged him to deep midwicket. Sunil Gavaskar’s critique was specific: Samson’s back leg was planted too deep in the crease, meaning he relied heavily on wrist and hand power instead of moving his feet into the line of the ball.

“Sanju has a technical problem. He goes too deep into the crease and plays that flick shot,” Sunil Gavaskar said on JioHotstar, pointing out that the keeper-batter needs to sharpen his footwork, especially when opening or handling the new ball. The veteran’s view was that smart field placements and disciplined bowling — like Namibia’s plan to lure Samson into playing across the line — can force that very error.

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But Sunil Gavaskar also conceded Samson’s brief assault will help his confidence if he spends more time at the crease next outing. Beyond batting observations, Gavaskar offered a tactical read on India’s bowling plans as they pivot toward the marquee India vs Pakistan clash in Colombo.

He noted India’s two-spinner approach so far, with Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel operating in tandem, and suggested the conditions in Sri Lanka could make a three-spinner setup attractive. Gavaskar expects the team to consider slotting Kuldeep Yadav into the XI in place of a seamer such as Arshdeep Singh to counter Pakistan’s spin options on a surface that tends to grip.

“Varun’s impact when he bowls is obvious — he takes wickets — and Axar has been steady,” Sunil Gavaskar observed. “With Colombo likely to assist spinners, Kuldeep could come in to provide that extra wrist-spin threat.” He also referenced match management: using Hardik Pandya’s variations and Shivam Dube’s hitting lower down the order gives India balance if they go heavier on spin.

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Samson’s dismissal is a prompt, not a crisis. The takeaway from Gavaskar’s analysis is crisp: a top-order batter who wants to open or anchor must improve foot movement against the new ball, and India’s management will need to weigh personnel and roles carefully as conditions change. Technical tweaks, scenario-based nets and deliberate practice against quality pace and spin will determine whether Samson’s powerful flashes become longer, more dependable innings in this World Cup campaign.