Indiastruggle against namibia But ICC T20 World Cup 2026 It was expected that this would be a routine outing, but for sanju samsonThis became another chapter of investigation and debate. The stylish wicketkeeper-batsman was included in the playing eleven in place of illness. Abhishek SharmaHad a golden opportunity to cement his place. Instead, his brief stay at the crease created a storm online, with fans once again questioning his consistency on the international stage.
A stellar start for Sanju Samson, but short-lived
Walking in with intent, Samson wasted no time in announcing himself. He hit boundaries at will and scored 22 runs in just eight balls. The timing was good, the strokeplay beautiful – a reminder of the immense talent that has excited Indian cricket followers for a long time.
However, just as the momentum seemed to be building, Samson fell while attempting another aggressive shot. The dismissal halted India’s early lead and reignited a familiar debate: talent shines, but not for long.
In T20 cricket, cameos often matter, especially at a faster strike rate. But in Samson’s case, expectations have always been different. Fans and analysts alike believe that he has the ability to dominate bowling attacks and bat deep into the innings. This belief, while appreciating his talent, also fuels criticism whenever he fails to convert starts into significant contributions.
Within minutes of his dismissal, social media platforms were flooded with reactions. Memes, sarcastic posts and sharp criticisms started trending. Some users questioned why Samson was consistently getting chances, while others compared him to players waiting on the bench.
A section of fans argued that the 22-run blitz should not be completely ruled out in a World Cup game, especially if it increases the scoring rate early on. However, loud voices focused on the missed opportunity. With India aiming to build momentum in the tournament, supporters were expecting a more decisive performance against the comparatively inexperienced Namibian attack.
The trolling reflected widespread frustration among fans who have seen Samson produce similar quick bursts in the past without converting them into match-defining innings.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Sanju Samson in T20
58 matches
50 innings
1100 runs
23 average
148
3 fifties
3 centuriesHis stats are removing 3 centuries
47 innings
773 runs
18 average
135 srThe biggest scam of Indian cricket!!#T20WorldCup #INDvsNAM pic.twitter.com/KXKMDsN0KA
– Muntaha Khan (@ishasingh0987) 12 February 2026
sanju samson today 🤣#INDvsNAM #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/nQAbSjxzIs
– RB. (@rahul4bisht) 12 February 2026
Sanju Samson 😀 pic.twitter.com/SircodcXoI
-Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@Vibhubhola) 12 February 2026
Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, thank you for your efforts, but now you take retirement from cricket. Thank you 🙏
– Aditi (@aditiraaaj) 12 February 2026
Sanju Samson in his last T20 innings:
26(20), 5(7), 3(6), 1(3), 16(7), 56(45), 13(17), 39(23), 24(21), 2(4), 37(22), 10(7), 6(5), 0(1), 24(15), 6(6), 28(8)*17 average,
129 SR.
– How is this fraud Mino Basher still getting chances? He should be thrown out. pic.twitter.com/3bD7COXSmi– EMROK,O (@Vardhan_Verma) 12 February 2026
The last time I saw Sanju Samson performing was before World War II
#INDvNAM #ICCMensT20WorldCup #sanjusamson pic.twitter.com/2yqExHlLMS
– Ajay Yadav🦁 (@ajayyadav000008) 12 February 2026
Samson in the nets:
Samson in the match: pic.twitter.com/UDF3VtXONX
– Hitwicket (@shukla_ji27) 12 February 2026
“Reach the third over of the innings or rap in Chinese.”
Sanju Samson: pic.twitter.com/oxYMe6NJvy
– Nini’s Aunt (@cowboylikegill) 12 February 2026
Sanju Samson played 2 good shots and my hopes increased and then he was out..
The most inconsistent cricketer ever, man..😭pic.twitter.com/JeUWh3spqm
– Saravanvelu (@saravanvelu2) 12 February 2026
Sanju Samson got a good start but could not convert it into goals.
Another opportunity successfully wasted.– Sagarika Dixit (@saga__r) 12 February 2026
