Team India have arrived in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand, set to be played on Saturday, and the spotlight has firmly shifted to Kerala’s favourite son, Sanju Samson. With the series moving to his home state, expectations will be high for the wicketkeeper-batter to deliver in front of a passionate local crowd.
The Indian squad touched down in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, and a light-hearted moment at the airport quickly grabbed attention on social media. Captain Suryakumar Yadav was seen playfully clearing the way for Sanju Samson as the players walked out, jokingly telling those around him, “Don’t disturb Chetta. Make way for him.”
The comment, delivered in good humour, drew smiles from those present, with SanjuSamson visibly enjoying the banter and the warm welcome from his skipper. While the mood was relaxed off the field, Samson will be acutely aware that the on-field narrative has been less encouraging. The ongoing T20I series against New Zealand has been a difficult one for the 31-year-old.
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Across four innings, he has managed just 40 runs, with his highest contribution being 24 in Vizag on Wednesday. On batting-friendly surfaces where run-scoring has been relatively easy, Sanju Samson’s inability to convert starts has stood out.
Make way for @IamSanjuSamson in 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 😉
🎥 Don’t miss this banter between friends Sanju Samson and Captain Surya Kumar Yadav 😄#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFirstBank | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/zBAFPmZJGk
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 30, 2026
“Don’t disturb Chetta 😂”
SKY making fun of Sanju Samson pic.twitter.com/JsTuXVkcgl
— Sanju Samson Fans Page (@SanjuSamsonFP) January 29, 2026
In contrast, opening partner Abhishek Sharma has enjoyed a productive series, scoring 152 runs in four innings despite suffering two golden ducks. His aggressive approach and consistency have underlined the gap in returns between the two openers, adding further pressure on Sanju Samson heading into the final match.
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The situation is further complicated by the presence of Ishan Kishan, who has impressed since his return to the T20I setup. With Kishan offering a reliable wicketkeeping option and valuable runs in the middle order, Samson’s place is under scrutiny.
Saturday’s game at Greenfield International Stadium offers Sanju Samson the ideal stage to turn things around. A strong performance at home could not only silence critics but also reaffirm his value as India fine-tunes their combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup.
