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The winner of the 2026 Asian Games' men's cricket event, Shreyas Iyer-led Indian cricket team, started their 5-match T20I series against West Indies on a strong note, chasing down 172 runs in just 14.4 overs. India claimed the win in an emphatic way, but there are questions, again, over their opening pair, which was formed with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, keeping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench.
After the emergence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India's top batting order for the T20I format remains an unsolved puzzle. Out-of-favour India batter Hanuma Vihari has taken the discussion over India's opening combination to a new level, stating that Sanju Samson will be under immense pressure after his flop show in the India vs West Indies 1st T20I match in Lucknow.
Sanju Samson is feeling insecure: Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari, in his latest YouTube video, expressed that Sanju Samson's career with the India National Cricket Team will be on the wire after his quick dismissal against West Indies in the previous match. Vihari believed that Samson will feel pressure as Vaibhav Suryavanshi is right after him, waiting for his turn.
Vihari reckoned that whenever Sanju Samson put himself under pressure, he failed to perform according to his true potential. Ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the keeper-batter's form was under the scanner after the emergence of Ishan Kishan, who was then in splendid form.
"The biggest question is another failure for Samson. How long a rope can he get? I am a big fan, and I would like for him to play. But I think he is feeling insecure. He has also said before that where there is pressure of competition behind him, he cannot perform. That's why, if you remember, when Ishan made a comeback in the New Zealand series before the World Cup, Samson did not perform. And now, Vaibhav is behind him. He must be feeling that pressure," Hanuma Vihari said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Hanuma Vihari asks Sanju Samson to perform under pressure
The discarded batter further stated that Samson needs to learn how to perform despite the pressure.
"Pressure plays a big part. Most people do not understand. Those who have played know it, but those who have not don't get it. That's why in cricket, especially when playing for India, you need to be able to handle pressure. Samson will be feeling that pressure, and for that matter, anyone would in his place," Vihari added.
Hanuma Vihari praises Shreyas Iyer for his knock vs West Indies
However, Vihari praised the skipper Shreyas Iyer for his stellar performance after the early dismissals of the openers Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Iyer played an unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls at a strike rate of 237.21 to secure the win.
"Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson got out soon, and they were struggling a bit at one point. Shreyas came in at that time and took some time initially. He was scoring at will. Hitting sixes. Yes, it was a bit easy with dew. But still, he was too good," Hanuma Vihari continued.
