Sanju Samson finds ways to get out at times when he shouldn't: Simon Doull

In a disheartening turn for Sanju Samson, the second ODI against South Africa in Gqeberha on December 19 saw the Indian batter facing yet another setback. After being sidelined in the World Cup 2023, his return to the pitch didn’t quite meet expectations. Former New Zealand cricketer turned commentator, Simon Doull, scrutinized Samson’s performance, highlighting a concerning trend in his dismissals.

The 29-year-old's struggle to find stability at the crease persisted as he managed only 12 runs off 23 balls, falling victim to a familiar pattern. Doull pointed out that his dismissal mirrored a recurrent flaw in his technique – attempting to shuffle away and ultimately nicking the ball onto his stumps. While this approach might work in friendlier conditions, it seemed ill-suited when faced with a challenging pitch that offered movement for the ball.

"Yeah, he's not had a real extended run, but he's had opportunities in back to back games. Quite a typical, Sanju Samson dismissal. You know, he finds ways to get out when at times he shouldn't. He's a little shuffle playing away from his body. We see that often. It's ok on surfaces in India to be playing away from your body when the ball doesn't do much," Doull said while speaking to Star Sports.

"But it's nipping around a little, quite a fraught with danger, that type of shot, you see the angle of the bat at 45 degrees. It's not a classical straight bat shot. He sort of wants that wand outside the line of off-stump far too often, and I think that's what people get frustrated with Sanju,” he added.

Sanju Samson lacks consistency when opportunity knocks the door 

The debate surrounding Samson’s spot in the Indian team intensified given his inconsistency, notably with just one substantial score during the recent West Indies tour. Compounded by the impressive performances of wicketkeepers KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan in prior matches, The right-handed batter's place in the lineup hangs precariously.

Despite his potential, the Kerala batter's actual time on the field has been limited, as he has played a mere 15 ODIs and 24 T20Is for India. While his T20I stats present a cause for concern, averaging below 20, his record in the 50-over format showcases promise, boasting an average of 50.25 at a strike rate of 101.