In the fifth and final T20I against England at the Wankhade Stadium on Sunday, India secured a historic win and clinched the series 4-1, buoyed by Abhishek Sharma’s all-round performance. However, concerns remain over the batting approaches of Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav throughout the series.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav managed only 28 runs across five T20Is, with scores of 0, 12, 14, 0, and 2.
Former Indian spinner R. Ashwin, in a video on his Youtube channel Ash Ki Baat, analyzed the struggles, stating, “The problem, however, is Suryakumar’s batting. His captaincy has been excellent and he’s received strong backing from the bowlers, but he needs to give his batting some much-needed breathing space.”
Ashwin further remarked that it seems both Sanju and Suryakumar are playing almost identical roles, comparing their performances to duplicate roles in a Ranjith film. “When you see Sanju and SKY getting out in the same manner—same ball, same field, same shot, same mistake, and same dismissal—it’s hard to ignore. I might accept this in one or two games, but it’s becoming a recurring issue,” he added.
He continued, “Players should have the freedom to express themselves, but our batters need to develop better strategies. They must decide whether to avoid the bowler or force him to bowl to their strengths. Suryakumar is one of the most experienced T20I batters, yet it’s time he adjusted his approach.”
Sanju Samson has also been a concern for Team India. Despite his impressive record of three centuries in five innings against Bangladesh and South Africa in previous contests, he has struggled against the pace of Jofra Archer in this series—who has dismissed him three times. Samson has scored just 51 runs in five innings, with a top score of 26.
Reflecting on Samson’s recent form, Ashwin said, “I met Sanju at a recent awards show, and I could tell that as a player, your mind can run wild. It leads to self-doubt and endless questions about your own talent.”