Amid the growing competition for every single position in the Indian playing combination, Sanju Samson flopped against Ireland in the ongoing India vs Ireland 1st T20I match in Belfast.
In the second inning, India needs to score 183 runs to claim the first of the 2-match series. With Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as the openers, Team India expected a flying start.
Jai Moondra clean bowled Sanju Samson in the India vs Ireland 1st T20I match
Instead, they lost their first batter, only for 16 runs on board in the second over of the second innings. Sanju Samson departed with only 5 runs from 4 balls. Jai Moondra got his man on the very first ball of his international cricket career for the Ireland National Cricket Team. Samson put his weight behind to play a cut shot. The ball shaped into the batter and took an edge before dismantling the bails.
There was obvious pressure on the shoulders of the top-order batters of the team, as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in the ranks. There were a lot of speculations around the 15-year-old batter, as he is on the brink of making his debut at the senior level of the game with the national cricket team.
Sanju Samson, who was one of the main architects behind the team's triumphant 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, walked out with a lot of expectations, which he was not able to fulfill tonight.
While Sanju Samson was dismissed cheaply against Ireland, his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma, scored another half-century before losing his guard. He needed only 19 balls to touch the 50-run mark.
Fastest T20I 50s vs Ireland (by balls)
17 Stephan Myburgh Sylhet 2014
18 Litton Das Chattogram 2023
19 Abhishek Sharma Belfast 2026
20 Phil Salt Malahide 2025
According to Cricbuzz, for the fifth time, Abhishek Sharma has scored a T20I fifty in 20 or fewer balls – the most by a batter from a Full Member team; no one else has more than three such instances.
Ishan Kishan, another top-order batter, who came to bat at number 3 for this match, was also dismissed without making any impact with the bat. Newly appointed captain Shreyas Iyer also sustained a bad day with the bat as he had to walk off for only 3 off 7.
Notable reactions on 'X' over Sanju Samson's dismissal
Such a bummer! 😔 Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are both out in the first T20 against Ireland. Hoping for a comeback! 🏏💔 #IREvIND #cricket pic.twitter.com/uOOgALLSks
— Cricflesh6677 (@Truethings01) June 26, 2026
INDIA ARE 89-4 AFTER 10 OVERS.
— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) June 26, 2026
- Sanju Samson 5 [4]
- Abhishek Sharma 50 [20]
- Ishan Kishan 1 [5]
- Shreyas Iyer 3 [7]
- Tilak Varma 19* [20]
- Washington Sundar 4* [5] pic.twitter.com/cAy4WDxw7J
🚨 NEXT LEVEL HUMILIATION FOR INDIA TEAM 🚨
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) June 26, 2026
- Ireland destroyed India's batters in 1st match:
- Sanju Samson: 5(4)
- Ishan Kishan: 1(5)
- Shreyas Iyer: 3(7)
- Tilak Varma: 19(30)* playing.
Only Abhishek Sharma playing good innings and scored 50 in 20 balls. pic.twitter.com/0c9QmjWTtF
Sanju Samson should be careful, the team will somehow look to fit in Suryavanshi (which they should) but it might also cost him his place in the XI
— 𝗚𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿❄️ (@_GunRunner_) June 26, 2026
Sanju samson is a good player but i haven't seen him performing consistently..#INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/XG4kWNkT9K
— sunny joshi (@sunnyjoshiii) June 26, 2026
The number of people who want Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The number of people who are going to demand justice for Sanju Samson.
— Anubhav (@BuriedDreams_) June 26, 2026
