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STUMP VISION FEBRUARY 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 43

From Silk to Survival: Sanju Samson’s

Art, Anxiety, and the Indian Cricket Trial

Sanju Samson’s move from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings felt like the end of one era and the start of

another. For 11 years, he was Rajasthan’s captain, record-holder, and identity, so walking away was never easy

ARCHAN MEHTA

anju, a cricketing tale where
timing is priceless, until it sud-
Sdenly isn’t. Cricket moves be-
tween brilliance and chaos, and Sam-
son has experienced both on his good
days the ground feels too small, and
on his bad days the noise around him
feels impossible to ignore. Late 2024
was his peak, the kind of run that
turns talent into legend: back-to-back
T20I centuries followed by another
unbeaten hundred that didn’t just
put him in the record books, but an-
nounced him as something special. In
a format obsessed with power, match-
ups, and brute force, Samson remind-
ed everyone that pure timing can still Injuries slowed Samson’s IPL rhythm, and selection uncertainty returned like an uninvited guest (ANI file photo)
dominate bowlers. But Indian cricket
is rarely patient, brilliance earns at- every coach’s favorite example and Yet, just as momentum seemed New Zealand’s pacers didn’t out-skill
tention, not security and that is where every bowler’s recurring nightmare. set, cricket did what it always does, it him; they out-planned him. Short balls
Samson’s story now stands, shifting Sanju Samson’s move from Ra- complicated things. Injuries slowed into the body, straight lines, minimal
from comfort to challenge, from art jasthan Royals to Chennai Super Samson’s IPL rhythm, and selection room and Samson’s static footwork
to anxiety. Kings felt like the end of one era and uncertainty returned like an uninvited did the rest. Sunil Gavaskar’s critique
That record-breaking run wasn’t the start of another. For 11 years, he guest. Despite those three T20I cen- cut deep because it was accurate: no
loud; it was elegant domination. A was Rajasthan’s captain, record-hold- turies, the management pivoted to- movement, exposed stumps, late reac-
111 off 47 against Bangladesh in Hy- er, and identity, so walking away was wards Shubman Gill, pushing Samson tions. The golden duck in Guwahati,
derabad, followed by twin hundreds never easy. CSK were not just sign- down the order. The irony was harsh, first ball from future CSK teammate
against South Africa, capped by an ing a batter; they were planning for Samson lost his place even as Gill Matt Henry, felt symbolic as if destiny
unbeaten 109 and a monstrous 210- the future, with MS Dhoni watch- struggled to score runs. His role kept was bowling in-swingers. Meanwhile,
run partnership against South Africa ing closely. The `18-crore price tag changing, his confidence dropped, Ishan Kishan was cashing in, Tilak
felt like Samson had finally cracked brought heavy expectations, because and his career once again became un- Varma was waiting, and Abhishek
the T20 code on his own terms. The in Chennai, past reputation means predictable. When Samson finally re- Sharma had already locked the door.
numbers were outrageous: over a little without present form. Just as turned as an opener, the pressure was As selectors juggle options, Sam-
thousand T20I runs at a strike rate Samson looked set, injuries slowed even higher. Expectations had piled son’s margin for error has vanished.
brushing 150. But what truly separated him down and selection doubts re- up, and he was no longer batting just The final truth is clear and tough,
him was how he scored them. No slog- turned. Despite his T20I centuries, against bowlers, but against his own talent gives you chances just not guar-
sweep spasms, no baseball swings, just the team management shifted focus doubts. antees. In Indian cricket, timing mat-
a straight bat, soft hands, and a refus- to Shubman Gill, pushing Samson The current slump has been bru- ters most, and right now, even time
al to look ugly. When he hit five sixes down the order. Roles kept changing, tal. Since January 2025, numbers that seems to be working against him.
in an over, it wasn’t brute force; it was confidence slipped, and when Sam- once dazzled now disturb an average Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
geometry. Bowlers weren’t smashed, son finally returned as an opener, the barely touching double digits, Pow- telling compelling stories about athletes,
they were educated. Somewhere pressure had doubled, forcing him to erPlays becoming quick exits, and teams, and the world of cricket.
during that phase, Samson became fight doubt as much as bowlers. a technical flaw ruthlessly exposed.

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