Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has hailed Sanju Samson as India’s new batting linchpin following the wicketkeeper-batsman’s heroics in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against England, especially as opener Abhishek Sharma continues to struggle for form.
Samson scored 89 against England in the semi-final and his 97 against the West Indies put India in the showpiece of the tournament.
The 31-year-old has now amassed 232 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 77.33 and a strike rate of 201.73.
In contrast, Abhishek Sharma managed just nine runs in the crucial semi-final encounter, extending his poor run in the tournament. The left-hander has scored just 89 runs from seven innings.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan praised Samson’s tactical nous, especially the way he handled England pacer Jofra Archer.
“Before this match, that matchup was problematic. But Samson didn’t try to fight Archer’s speed; he embraced it,” explained Pathan.
“He played behind square, especially when the ball was outside the leg stump, which made it easy. He didn’t hit straight shots at short lengths, but aimed for the leg side,” he added.
The former left-arm fast bowler also noted a key moment in the innings that changed the momentum.
“There was a moment when Harry Brooke dropped his catch and Archer could have caught him. But after that, Samson’s shots—especially that back-footed six off Archer’s slow ball off side—were simply outstanding.”
Pathan highlighted how Samson’s aggressive approach disrupted England’s bowling plans, forcing them to delay the introduction of spinner Will Jacks until the final over.
“The pace Samson maintains is remarkable,” observed Pathan. “With his batting, the opposition couldn’t execute their plans properly. Abhishek didn’t score runs, so it looks like Samson decided to take over and lead the team forward. That misstep by England was forced by Samson and Shivam Dubey.”
Following the semi-final win, Samson defended his underperforming partner and expressed confidence that a turnaround is imminent ahead of Sunday’s final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
“We have a great dressing room atmosphere,” Samson told reporters in Mumbai. “Our leaders have a lot of faith in Abhishek and we are all behind him. Every player goes through ups and downs. With just a couple of good shots in the middle, everything can change in this format. We still believe in him, and who knows—maybe the final day will be his day.”
The defending champions will face the Blackcaps in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.