Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth criticised Sanju Samson after India claimed a 93-run win against Namibia in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Thursday. Samson got his opportunity as Abhishek Sharma was ruled out with a stomach infection but could not grab it with both hands.
Samson, who was making his T20 World Cup debut, was dismissed after scoring a little cameo of 8-ball 22. Samson smashed three sixes and one four but had a soft dismissal as he chipped the ball to a mid-wicket fielder.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “The problem with Sanju is he is too desperate. He hit two sixes superbly. Why not just take a single and have a breather? That’s where he doesn’t use his intelligence. It was the perfect match to really solidify himself. Now everyone will say he doesn’t score big, irrespective of how many chances he gets.”
On the other hand, Ishan Kishan scored 61 runs off just 24 balls with the help of six fours and five sixes at a whirlwind strike rate of 254.17 to help India post 209 runs on the board. Srikkanth said Kishan’s best quality is the fact that he doesn’t hit across the line.
“Ishan Kishan got his eye in the first four deliveries. But after that, the kind of explosion from him was unbelievable. It felt like sixes went to India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan. His best quality is that he doesn’t play across the line and plays straight. Just a superb striker of the ball,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
The 1983 World Cup-winning player also praised Hardik Pandya’s knock. The all-rounder smashed 52 runs off just 28 balls with the help of four fours and as many sixes.
“It was Hardik Pandya’s knock that really helped India. Like Ishan Kishan, he took about six balls to settle down. Hardik was also only on three from seven deliveries. It shows that anybody needs to get their eye in. He makes batting look too easy,” stated the former captain.
India will next take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Sunday.
