Samson’s Slump Threatens Place Ahead of West Indies Clash in Ranchi

Friday’s T20 in Ranchi will be a litmus test for India’s wicket‑keeper batsman Sanju Samson. After a pair of half‑centuries against Afghanistan, Samson’s next four innings have been underwhelming: 9 runs from 7 balls versus Japan, 7 from 9 against Sri Lanka, a mere 2 off 4 in the Asian Games final versus Pakistan, and 11 off 9 in the first West Indies T20. The dip has intensified speculation that the 26‑year‑old could lose his spot to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has been knocking on the door of the playing eleven. Coach Gautam Gambhir’s public endorsement of Samson suggests the veteran may still feature, but the final decision rests on the team’s assessment of form versus potential. If Samson is dropped, Suryavanshi will open with Abhishek Sharma, while Ishan Kishan will handle wicket‑keeping. India’s confidence remains high after Shreyas Iyer’s dazzling 103* in the series opener in Lucknow.