Morne Morkel reveals India's intentions for Sanju Samson before T20 World Cup 2026

Morne Morkel on Sanju Samson's form. [Source - BCCI.tv]

India have been utterly dominant in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Suryakumar Yadav and his men are playing some fearless cricket, storming to victories in the first three games to seal the series, with two matches still to play.

The batting unit has looked unstoppable, alongside the bowling which has been sharp enough, and the fielding energy has matched the aggressive intent as India’s performances reflect a team in red-hot form, building momentum at the right time ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Yet, even amid the winning run, one concern continues to intrigue the team management as Sanju Samson’s continuous struggle at the top of the order remains a talking point with India preparing for the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam.

Sanju Samson’s form raises alarm bells

Sanju Samson’s rough patch has now stretched into a third consecutive match in the series. The opener has fallen inside the powerplay in all three games, failing to get going and raising concerns over his confidence against the new ball.

However, the issue extends beyond this series as since the start of 2025, Sanju Samson averages just 17 in T20Is. As an opener in the same period, the right-hander’s average drops further to 11.55 across nine innings, exposing a worrying pattern.

With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, India cannot afford uncertainty at the top. While backing players is vital, consistent failures in a key role make Samson’s form a major concern with only two games remaining before the mega event.

Morne Morkel backs Samson, stresses need for a big knock

Ahead of the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam, India bowling coach Morne Morkel addressed the media and voiced his backing for Sanju Samson, underlining the management’s belief in his talent and ability to come good despite recent failures.

“Sanju [Samson] is one knock away from getting that confidence and getting that form back. We all know the cliche word that 'form is temporary and class is permanent'. For us in building up to the World Cup it is important for the guys to find that peak performance at the right time,” Morkel said.

At the same time, Morkel also made it clear that form remains important heading into a World Cup year as he stressed that the team would ideally want all the players in form and with the right confidence, even while offering patience to those going through lean phases.

Time running out for Sanju Samson as T20 World Cup 2026 pressure mounts

Despite continued backing, time may be running out for Sanju Samson. His struggles against the new ball are not new, and repeated failures make it difficult for the team to overlook the issue as competition for spots intensifies.

Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has returned in sensational form, smashing 112 runs at a strike rate of 224 in just three innings. With Tilak Varma nearing full fitness, it could soon be impossible for the management to ignore Kishan’s remarkable re-arrival in India colours.