'He was not performing': Ex-India captain questions Sanju Samson’s T20WC performances

Former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has congratulated the Indian team on their successive T20 World Cup triumph and also claimed that India, with their recent form, seems an invincible side against all opposition until they themselves start playing poorly. He, however, has a contradictory view on Sanju Samson, India's World Cup hero.

India dominated all opposition on the international front, except for their heavy defeat to South Africa. However, losing and winning are part and parcel of the game, and the loss never seemed to have affected the morale of the players but rather ignited a flame of determination.

I hope they achieve a hat-trick very soon- Mohammad Azharuddin

While India won their second consecutive ICC T20 World Cup as well as their third consecutive ICC tournament, the former Indian captain has claimed India to be an invincible side. India's winning streak began with the ICC T20 World Cup 2024; they then won the 2025 Champions Trophy and then went on to emerge victorious in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

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"...I’m very happy that the team has performed so well. I think they’ve won the T20 World Cup twice in succession, and I hope they achieve a hat-trick very soon. Kudos to all the team members and staff, they’ve really played exceptionally well," Mohammad Azharuddin hailed the Indian team.

After India's win, former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has picked India to be a very strong team with equal depth in batting and bowling. He has, however, cited India's fielding abilities, which, though, have been below par in this World Cup.

"The Indian team is strong, with depth in both bowling and batting, and their fielding has also improved. In a few matches, they took some outstanding catches, and such fielding moments make a big difference. If India continues to play the way they are, it will be very hard for any team to defeat them, unless India themselves play poorly,” the former Captain added.

He [Sanju Samson] was not performing up to the expectations- Mohammad Azharuddin

However, the former skipper had a very strange version reserved for India's hero Sanju Samson, who took the T20 World Cup by storm, especially delivering in the last three knockout games for India. Sanju Samson came to India's rescue when it mattered the most.

Sanju Samson also played a match-winning knock in the last three games and scored fifties in the three consecutive games for the Men in Blue. Sanju Samson finished off with 321 runs the most by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup edition.

“He (Sanju Samson) was not performing up to the expectations of the people in India or those who select the team. Now, he has matured a lot. It took him time to understand that you have to stay at the wicket to score runs, if you don’t, you can’t score," the captain said when asked about Sanju Samson's performance.

"The last three games have shown that he has worked very hard, and I’m very happy for him. He has plenty of time to play shots and an abundance of talent,” he added.

VIDEO | Reacting to India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin says, “...I’m very happy that the team has performed so well. I think they’ve won the T20 World Cup twice in succession, and I hope they achieve a hat-trick very soon. Kudos to all… pic.twitter.com/wPp4z2Zec6

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 9, 2026

India will begin preparation for the ICC World Cup 2027

India's next assignment will be the ICC World Cup 2027, which will be hosted in entirely different conditions. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia are the official hosts for the competition, which would also mark the final outing on the international front for Indian greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Indian veterans, as well as the team, are awaiting their chance to avenge their defeat in the 2023 ICC World Cup and also to give the legends a perfect farewell. India last won the World Cup when Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar played his final ICC tournament.

The next T20 World Cup might not be an assignment under Gautam Gambhir since his term ends with the Indian team after the 2027 World Cup. But the T20 World Cup will be held in Australia in 2028.

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