During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian cricket team secured a commanding 72-run victory against Zimbabwe in the Super-8 stage at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Sunju Samson was included in the playing XI, taking the place of Rinku Singh, and was entrusted with the responsibility of opening the innings. While he started off with promising shots, including a six and a four, he could not capitalize on the momentum and was dismissed for 24 runs from 15 balls, leading to criticism from former cricketers and commentators.

Samson's performance has been a topic of concern as he consistently fails to convert strong starts into substantial innings. Although he showcased his hitting ability early in his innings, his dismissal came at a crucial moment, which shifted the game's momentum slightly. Commentators like Ravi Shastri echoed the sentiment that Samson needs to work on his consistency and adapt his game to build on promising starts. This pattern of getting out in similar fashion raises questions about his position in the team strategy going forward.

As the Indian team aims to progress in the tournament, every player's performance becomes critical. The expectation is not just to perform intermittently but to contribute significantly in high-stakes matches. Samson's ability to evolve and adapt his gameplay will be under scrutiny as the team prepares for upcoming crucial matches in the T20 World Cup, especially with expectations of reaching the semi-finals now hanging in the balance.