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3 min readUpdated: Feb 12, 2026 08:23 PM IST
India's Sanju Samson scored 22 off 8 against Namibia during T20 World Cup 2026 game in New Delhi. (PHOTO: AP)
Batsmen don’t show their cards, they wait for bowlers to show their hand first. They stick to their shape, don’t move around too often in the crease. Professionals learn from mistakes, they don’t keep repeating them like amateurs. Sanju Samson, these days, does everything that a seasoned international batsman is not supposed to do.
The out-of-form and low on confidence opener’s nervousness about his place in the side can be seen from his foot work. Before the bowler releases the ball, his right-foot takes a tiny back-step and the left too follows. The ploy that finishers fall back on to hoodwink and second guess the death-over bowlers are being used by Sanju, the opener. And the results haven’t been great.
In an attempt to get that extra microsecond to launch his big shots, or too afraid to go to the front foot, Sanju pre-meditates and takes a step back. Mind too muddled to take the right decision instinctively, he goes to the field with pre-conceived plans. This ploy might work against lesser bowlers and that also not for too long as it was seen against Namibia’s not-quite-world class bowling department at Kotla in India’s second game of the T20 World Cup.
The Kerala batsman seemed to be aware of the problem. On the first ball he faced, he took a tiny step forward. There seemed to be a conscious effort not to go back. The next two balls, he struggled. He missed an easy punch to cover and failed to connect a flick off a ball on the legs. So now he thought of staying in the crease. That worked. Sanju would be still and he would loft a good length ball straight for a six. Had he ironed out his flaw? Not really.
The next over showed he did what he has been doing of late. He went back before the ball was released. It worked for a bit. He hit three sixes – two over the fine leg and later an uppish stroke over cover to a ball on the off. Each of the sixes were hit from behind the line of the crease. And then he overdid it. Next, to a shortish slower ball, he was again on the back foot. Away from the ball, his not-here-nor-there shot would land in the mid-wicket’s hands. Sanju has taken too many back-steps and seemed to be disappearing to the margins.
Sanju, by not standing still, but moving backwards, is forcing himself into a corner, leaving him with little wriggle room. His 8-ball 22 that had 3 sixes which was a case study in what not to do.
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In his last few innings for India, Sanju has developed a habit of moving around in the crease much before he needs to. It is this flaw that has seen him lose form and also his place in the side. It was only because of Abhishekh Sharma’s health scare and subsequent hospitalisation that Sanju got a second chance.
Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More
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