The India-New Zealand T20I series reaches its climax at Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield Stadium this Saturday. For Sanju Samson, it’s more than just a game—it’s a career-defining moment on his home turf amid a dismal series showing.
Plagued by poor form, Samson has scraped together only 40 runs across four outings, his best being 24. Selected as opener over Shubman Gill and primary wicketkeeper, the pressure has weighed heavy. Now, with Ishan Kishan firing on all cylinders—highlighted by his 76-run fireworks—Samson’s berth for the 2026 T20 World Cup hangs by a thread.
Greenfield holds fond memories for India, with three wins in four T20Is. Batting first has yielded an average of 155, peaking at a mammoth 235/4 against Australia in 2023. Local support could propel Samson to the big innings needed to reclaim his swagger.
Don’t miss the action starting 7 PM IST on Star Sports, streamed live on JioHotstar. Both teams are locked in battle, but Samson’s redemption arc steals the spotlight.
India’s lineup features Suryakumar Yadav leading a star-studded side including Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, and pace aces like Bumrah and Arshdeep. New Zealand counters with Mitchell Santner at the helm, backed by Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and their bowling brigade.
As the series finale unfolds, will Samson rise or fade? The answer lies in Trivandrum.
