Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson had a front-row seat for the opening two T20Is, watching the action unfold from the bench. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper finally stepped back into the Indian XI for the climactic face-off against Afghanistan. Samson, often the unfortunate bystander, found himself in the shadows once more as the Indian think tank initially preferred young Jitesh Sharma as the designated wicketkeeper for the first two T20Is. However, fortune smiled on Samson when Jitesh’s bat stayed silent in the previous match, earning him a spot in the playing XI for the dead rubber at Bengaluru’s M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Given the stage to shine, the 29-year-old Samson, unfortunately, mistimed his pull shot, gifting his wicket to Fareed Ahmad on the very first ball and failing to notch a score on his return. It wasn’t just Samson facing the music, though; star players Virat Kohli (1), Yashasvi Jaiswal (4), and Shivam Dube (1) shared the same forgettable fate as India tumbled to 22-4 in 4.3 overs. Samson had another shot at redemption in the second Super Over, but a swing and a miss resulted in a diamond duck, courtesy of a run-out by Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran at the stump.
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Despite Rohit Sharma’s captain’s innings of 121 and Rinku Singh’s explosive 69, propelling India to a formidable 212-4 in 20 overs and sealing the series with a convincing 3-0, Samson’s lacklustre performance, akin to a cricketing ‘king pair’ where a batsman is dismissed for a duck in both innings of a Test match, left fans utterly disappointed. Unable to digest the outcome, fans vented their frustration through memes and trolling, questioning the wicketkeeper-batsman’s ability to deliver even in the limited chances he gets in the Indian squad.
Samson agar akele daudega to bhi 2nd aayega— Pushkar (@musafir_hu_yar) January 17, 2024
Samson mc scored 2 golden duck in the same match and it’s not even a test match— Pushkar (@musafir_hu_yar) January 17, 2024
Whenever he gets a chance…Sanju Samson : pic.twitter.com/m9QgVUJnJC
— UmdarTamker (@UmdarTamker) January 17, 2024
Sanju Samson utilising his chances in International cricket pic.twitter.com/LZolqrQyuD— Ritik (@retiredICTian2) January 17, 2024
Sanju Samson pic.twitter.com/8qkXitCmp3— Pulkit (@pulkit5Dx) January 17, 2024
In the chapters preceding this disappointing performance, Samson had squandered opportunities to strengthen his case for a spot in the World Cup squad.
Also Read: Sanju Samson Fans Show Sympathy With Memes After Indian Cricketer Snubbed From Australia ODI
After making a triumphant return in the South Africa series and smashing his maiden century with a brilliant 108 at Boland Park, Samson’s journey took a detour in the Afghanistan T20Is, leaving his future in the Indian T20I squad uncertain.
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