India’s 8‑wicket triumph in Lucknow left the hosts 1‑0 up in the five‑match T20I series, and all eyes are now on Sanju Samson.
Samson’s recent scores—11, 9, 7 and 2—have sparked debate, but former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara insists the wicket‑keeper‑batter deserves a chance to reset.
“There shouldn’t be any questions around his place,” Pujara told JioHotstar, stressing that a single dip isn’t enough to rewrite the lineup. He reminded management that a player’s pedigree and past glories—Samson’s World Cup win, for instance—are proof of his value.
The veteran also defended opener Abhishek Sharma, who fell to Roston Chase’s off‑spin. Pujara noted the dismissal was more a lapse in shot selection than a technical flaw, and promised Sharma a quick rebound.
With the series still wide open, the next match in Ranchi could be the moment Samson proves his worth. Pujara said the team will only bring in new faces when the time is right, citing youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a future option.
The pressure is on the boardroom, but the message is clear: keep Samson in the XI, give him space to find rhythm, and India will keep riding the momentum into the second T20I.