Sanju Samson and Virat Kohli for India [Source: X]After a golden duck in the third T20I against New Zealand, India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has joined an unwanted list in Indian T20I history. Samson has now become the second Indian cricketer to record the most ducks in T20 international cricket, only behind Rohit Sharma. Samson's dip in form has raised concerns, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 fast approaching, as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter is currently struggling for runs. How was Sanju Samson dismissed for a golden duck in the 3rd T20I?Sanju Samson was dismissed for a golden duck by Matt Henry on the very first ball of India’s chase of 154 in Guwahati. Henry produced a superb delivery that left the stadium stunned. Bowling over the wicket, he pitched the ball on a good length, angling it into the pads. Samson attempted an on-drive, expecting the ball to swing away, but it jagged back in sharply. The ball beat his bat, struck the pads, and crashed into the off and middle stumps, leaving Samson high and dry. Samson in shameful list of most ducks for India in T20IsWith this dismissal, Samson registered his seventh duck in T20Is for India from 47 innings, drawing level with Virat Kohli, who also has seven ducks in the format. Rohit Sharma tops the list, while Suryakumar Yadav has six ducks and KL Rahul has five. Most Ducks for India in T20I:12 - Rohit Sharma (151) 7 - Sanju Samson (47)* 7 - Virat Kohli (117) 6 - Suryakumar Yadav (96) 5 - KL Rahul (68) What is wrong with Samson?Samson’s poor run of form has sparked questions about what is going wrong. In the first two matches of the series, he scored just 10 and 6 runs, falling while attempting aggressive shots. He was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson in the first T20I and by Matt Henry again in the second, suggesting a pattern of mistimed attacking intent. This slump is surprising, given that his recent form before the New Zealand series had been encouraging. In the South Africa series, Samson scored 37 runs off 22 balls in the fifth T20I. Earlier, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, he amassed 233 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 58.25 and a strike rate of 137.87. He recorded notable scores of 43, 46, and 73 in the tournament. In the Asia Cup, despite limited opportunities, he scored 132 runs at an average of 33, including knocks of 56 and 39. However, that form has not carried into the ongoing New Zealand series, where he has just two matches left to secure his place in the World Cup squad. Ishan Kishan eyes spot with strong formMeanwhile, Ishan Kishan, the second-choice wicketkeeper-batter, has been in explosive form. He has scored 112 runs from three innings against New Zealand, including a 13-ball 28 and a blistering 76 off 32 balls. His recent performances have strengthened his case, and it would not be surprising if he replaces Samson in the playing XI. With less than two weeks to go before the T20 World Cup 2026, Sanju Samson now faces immense pressure to stage a strong comeback before India’s opening match against the United States of America on February 7, 2026.
