Former Gujarat batsman Priyank Panchal has issued a warning to wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson after his latest failure in the third T20I against New Zealand. Panchal said that repeated poor performances could jeopardize Samson’s place in the team, similar to Ambati Rayudu’s sidelining in 2019.
India sealed the five-match T20I series with a 3-0 lead in Guwahati on January 25 and will enter the 2026 T20 World Cup after another series win. However, Samson was out for a golden duck after being bowled by Matt Henry while chasing 154. He had scored just 10 and 6 runs in the first two matches of the series.
Due to this Ambati Rayudu did not get a place in the World Cup in 2019 – Priyank Panchal on Sanju Samson
Priyank Panchal said that Sanju Samson’s recent low scores can affect his place in the T20 World Cup. Panchal said the tough competition leaves no room for repeated failures and warned that just three bad matches cost Ambati Rayudu his place at the World Cup in 2019.
Panchal wrote on
Feeling bad for Sanju. Amidst such competition for venues, you cannot organize three matches so close to the World Cup. Don’t forget that only three bad matches vs AUS cost Rayudu Bhai a spot in the World Cup in 2019. I fear that this time too history is ready to return upon itself. #INDvNZ
– Priyank Panchal (@PKPanchal09) 25 January 2026
For those unaware, Ambati Rayudu missed out on selection for the 2019 ODI World Cup after scoring poorly in the pre-tournament matches. Prior to the event he had been regularly used at number 4 in ODIs, making his late exit surprising to many.
Despite Sanju Samson being out for a duck in the third T20 match, India has taken a 3-0 lead in the series.
India gave another brilliant performance and defeated New Zealand in the third T20 match in Guwahati. Chasing a target of 154, India ended the match with eight wickets remaining in just 10 overs, taking an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series.
India lost Sanju Samson on the very first ball of the chase as Matt Henry bowled him for a golden duck. However, the early setback did not slow down the scoring rate.
Abhishek Sharma took control and scored an unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls. He completed his half-century in just 14 balls, which is the second fastest half-century by an Indian in T20Is. Captain Suryakumar Yadav supported him by scoring unbeaten 57 runs on 26 balls.
Ishan Kishan also played a quick inning of 28 runs in 13 balls. The final T20 match of the ongoing series will be held on Wednesday, January 28 in Visakhapatnam.
Ishan Kishan’s form puts Sanju Samson’s T20 World Cup role in the spotlight
Ishan Kishan made a strong impact in the ongoing T20 series. He played a match-winning inning of 76 runs off 32 balls in the second game and followed it up with a quickfire inning of 28 runs off 13 balls in the third game. His form has raised questions over Sanju Samson’s place before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Samson was named in the 15-man World Cup squad with the plan to open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma. However, this role now looks uncertain after his poor performance in the first three T20Is against New Zealand, where he scored 10, 6 and 0.
Since the start of 2025, Samson has played 14 innings and scored 238 runs at an average of 17 and a strike rate of 126.59, with only one score above half-century.
Kishan, on the other hand, was not in the initial plans for the World Cup. His performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy forced the selectors to pick him. He was selected ahead of Shubman Gill to serve as the backup wicketkeeper-batsman in the top order.
Also read: Ishan Kishan is out, Sanju Samson included in the playing eleven despite poor form on Tilak Verma’s return.
