The 30-year-old's journey has been a rollercoaster since his 2015 T20I debut at age 20. Shining in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup with top strike rates and sixes, Samson impressed in IPL for Rajasthan Royals, amassing 4,704 runs, three centuries, and 219 sixes as captain. Yet, inconsistent selections plagued him—a 4.5-year hiatus post-debut, sporadic chances against weaker sides like Ireland and West Indies.
Under new coach Gautam Gambhir, Samson capitalized on T20I openings, scoring 619 runs in a year with three tons against South Africa and Bangladesh. However, the Asia Cup saw him demoted to middle order for Shubman Gill's return as vice-captain. Samson contributed crucially in the final, forging a 57-run stand with Tilak Varma after early collapses, but managed modest scores overall.
Fans question if this signals the end of Samson's push for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, where reclaiming his opening role seems tough amid competition from Gill and finishers like Jitesh Sharma. For the 2027 ODI World Cup, Rishabh Pant edges ahead as backup keeper, despite weaker stats. Samson must now excel in unfamiliar finishing roles to stay relevant, or risk fading from Team India's white-ball plans.
As Indian cricket evolves, Samson's peak form begs the question: Will selectors finally reward consistency, or continue the heartbreak?
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