Sanju Samson Will Find His Form, Says India Bowling Coach Ahead of T20 World Cup

India bowling coach Morne Morkel has thrown his weight behind Sanju Samson amid.

The wicketkeeper-batter’s lean run, insisting he is training well and is just one innings away from rediscovering his touch ahead of the T20 World Cup. Samson has had a difficult start to the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, managing scores of 10, 6 and 0 for a total of 16 runs. His struggles peaked in the third T20I in Guwahati, where he was dismissed for a golden duck after being hurried by Matt Henry. Despite the numbers, Morkel downplayed concerns, stressing that form ebbs and flows in international cricket.

“Sanju is one knock away from finding his form back. We all know the cliché that form is temporary,” Morkel said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “For us, building towards the World Cup, it’s important the guys peak at the right time. He’s training well, hitting the ball very well, so it’s only a matter of time before he gets the runs.”

India, meanwhile, have little cause for concern as a unit. With a 3-0 lead, they have already sealed the series and continued to underline their status as favourites heading into the 20-team World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav’s side have now gone unbeaten in their last nine bilateral T20I series, with most combinations appearing settled. Samson’s lack of runs remains the only unresolved issue, particularly with competition intensifying for spots at the top of the order.

Morkel reiterated that team results take precedence over individual slumps. “The main focus is that the team is winning. We’re 3-0 up, the boys are playing good cricket, and with a couple of games before the World Cup, I have no doubt Sanju will find his form and put runs on the board,” he added.

The New Zealand series marks Samson’s first stint as an opener in T20Is since the England tour in January 2025. During last year’s Asia Cup, Shubman Gill—named vice-captain—took over the opening role, pushing Samson down the order despite a prolific 2024 in which he struck three T20I centuries. Gill’s failure to convert starts in 2025 eventually led to his omission from both the series and the World Cup squad, reopening the door for Samson.

High expectations followed as Samson was pencilled in to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, but the returns have so far fallen short. In contrast, Ishan Kishan—drafted in as a replacement for the injured Tilak Varma—has impressed with scores of 8, 76 and 28, fuelling debate over a potential reshuffle before the World Cup.

India, however, are in no rush to make drastic changes with the series already secured. The fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, followed by the final match, gives Samson a limited but crucial window to convert management’s backing into runs and settle the discussion around his place ahead of the global tournament.