‘Don't get out on 37...’ K Srikkanth warns Sanju Samson after T20 World Cup selection
Sanju Samson received a pointed message from 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth days after securing his place as India's first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup 2026: promising starts won't be enough.
"Don't get out on 37. Convert that 37 into 73. If you do that, you can't be removed. People forget 30s and 40s," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, referencing Samson's quickfire 37 off 22 balls against South Africa in Ahmedabad on December 19.
The advice came just a day before India announced their 15-member squad on December 20, with Samson named as the primary wicketkeeper option. The Kerala batsman is expected to open alongside Abhishek Sharma in the tournament, which begins February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Gill's Exit Opens Door
Samson's inclusion followed a dramatic turn of events. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who had replaced Samson as opener during the Asia Cup in September, was dropped from the squad after managing just 291 runs in 15 innings without a single half-century. In the South Africa series, Gill totalled only 32 runs across three games before a foot injury ruled him out of the final two matches.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained the decision was centred on team combinations. "We wanted to have a keeper at the top," Agarkar said at the squad announcement in Mumbai. With Samson established as the first-choice opener-keeper and Ishan Kishan recalled as backup, Gill became surplus to requirements.
Batting Firepower for World Cup
Srikkanth also praised India's batting depth heading into the tournament, particularly highlighting Hardik Pandya's explosive 63 off 25 balls in the Ahmedabad match. "He was batting like 'Mission Impossible.' It was just outstanding to watch him bat," the former India captain said.
India posted 231-5 in the fifth T20I, with Tilak Varma contributing 73 off 42 balls, as they secured a 30-run victory to clinch the series 3-1. Pandya's fifty came off just 16 deliveries, the second-fastest for India in T20I history.
"If Suryakumar Yadav hits form, this batting line-up will destroy opponents. It is an intimidating and devastating batting line-up," Srikkanth added, expressing optimism about the defending champions' prospects.