Sports · Cricket · 3 hrs ago
Ashwin backs Samson after India batter's difficult T20I series against New Zealand
India and New Zealand played a five-match T20I series, with Sanju Samson in India's batting line-up.
Samson scored 67 in the first match, then made 14, 18, 4 and 4 in his next four innings.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stood by Samson after his poor run, replying to a social media user who questioned his support for the batter.
Ashwin joked that Samson was his first choice and the user's “full-time obsession.”
Samson's low scores have fuelled debate over India's top-order selection.
Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played two matches, scoring 4 and 45, and has emerged as another option in the discussion.
India won the first three games, but New Zealand took the last two to finish the series with a 3-2 scoreline.
Ravichandran Ashwin defended Sanju Samson after a social media user criticised his support for the batter following a low score in the final T20I against New Zealand.
Ashwin replied that Samson was his first choice and that the user had a full-time obsession with him.
Samson scored 107 runs in the five-match series, with scores of 67, 14, 18, 4 and 4.
India won the first three matches before New Zealand won the last two, leaving India with a 3-2 series victory.
Samson’s form prompted debate about whether India should give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi more opportunities at the top of the order.
- Who
- Ravichandran Ashwin defended Sanju Samson after a social media user criticised his support for the batter.
- What
- Ashwin replied with a joke about Samson being his first choice and the user’s supposed obsession with him.
- When
- The exchange took place on November 1, 2026, after Samson scored four in the final T20I.
- Where
- On social media.
- Why
- The user questioned Ashwin’s support for Samson after the batter’s low scores in the series.
Samson’s critic
Ravichandran Ashwin
Samson’s form
Samson’s critic
The critic said Samson had struggled throughout the series.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin said Samson was his first choice and joked that the critic was obsessed with him.
Samson scored 67 in the first T20I against New Zealand.
Samson scored four in the fifth T20I, and Ashwin responded to a social media user who questioned his support for the batter.
- Series score
- India beat New Zealand 3-2
- Samson’s series total
- 107 runs
- Samson’s scores
- 67, 14, 18, 4 and 4
- Sooryavanshi’s appearances
- Two matches; scores of 4 and 45
2 sources
What people are saying
Sanju mera first-choice, tumhara full-time obsession (Sanju is my first choice, he's your full-time obsession).
Hello Ashwin, your first choice Sanju flopped throughout the entire series @ashwinravi99
Posts on X
संजू मेरा फर्स्ट चॉइस है, तुम्हारा फुल-टाइम ऑब्सेशन 😂