Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has demanded Sanju Samson’s return to India’s playing XI for the do-or-die Super 8 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26.
Sanju Samson has played only one match so far in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he made a quick 22 runs off just eight balls against Namibia. He got that because Abhishek Sharma was battling with a stomach infection.
Since then, Samson has been warming the bench, with India preferring the in-form Ishan Kishan at the top alongside Abhishek despite his struggles. The last year has not been easy for the Kerala batter.
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With Shubman Gill coming back into the side, Sanju kept moving up and down the batting order. Samson’s numbers dropped badly in 2025, scoring 222 runs at an average of 22.20 and a strike rate of 121 in 10 innings.
'What a comeback it'll be to have it in Chennai'
This poor form has continued in 2026 as well. Still, Karthik believes that this could be the perfect moment for a turnaround, especially in Chennai. He feels Sanju can play a big innings in Chennai.
Dinesh Karthik said in his Instagram video, “What a beautiful story it'll be if he actually ends up playing. He has had such a rough last year. I feel for that kid because he was doing very well. Then Shubman Gill replaced him, and after that, when he got his opportunity again, Sanju didn't grab it. But we know Sanju Samson can be such a weapon, especially against spin.”
The RCB mentor and batting coach further added, “And now having moved from RR to CSK, having become the adopted son of Chennai, the Chennai crowd will love it. I cannot be happier for Sanju if he plays and does well because he's going to be spending the next three months in Chennai. What a comeback it'll be to have it in Chennai.”
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Sanju Samson can fix India’s spin weakness: Karthik
Meanwhile, Karthik also feels India’s biggest problem in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 has been batting against spin. He openly blamed Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma’s struggle in the middle overs for the team’s poor batting performance in the tournament.
The cricket pandit pointed out that India averaged 39 at a strike rate of 160 against spin last year, but in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, those numbers dropped to an average of 17.50 at a strike rate of 120. This is alarming, and in this situation, Sanju Samson can rescue them, as he is a natural attacker against spin.
Karthik signed off by saying, “Surya and Tilak haven't gotten going, and Surya has a strike rate of only 103, and Tilak under 100. But both are quality players of spin. So, adding a Sanju will get the best out of Surya and Tilak when they bat through the middle. Our strike rate and average against spin in this World Cup are not good enough, and that's an area of weakness for India.”
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