New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced concerns over the prolonged form slump of T20 batting star Sanju Samson, warning that his struggles at the crease could start affecting his mental state if he does not find a way to recover soon.
The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, currently sidelined for a month due to a fracture in his right index finger, endured a tough outing in the recent T20 series against England. Samson managed just 51 runs across five matches, failing to counter England’s pace and short-ball tactics effectively. India, however, dominated the series with a 4-1 victory.
“If Sanju keeps getting dismissed in a similar fashion, his mind will start playing tricks on him,” Ashwin remarked. “He will begin questioning whether the bowler is outplaying him or if he has a technical flaw. Such doubts make things difficult.”
Ashwin’s Advice for Suryakumar Yadav
Ashwin also weighed in on Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles, urging the out-of-form India T20I captain to tweak his batting strategy. Suryakumar managed only 28 runs in the England series, raising concerns about his recent performances.“I can understand failure in one or two games, but this has been surprising,” Ashwin commented on his Hindi YouTube channel. “If you know the opposition is targeting you in a specific way, you need to change your approach or avoid falling into their trap.”
Recognizing Suryakumar’s immense talent, Ashwin emphasized the need for the flamboyant batter to take a step back and reassess his game. “He is an experienced player, someone who revolutionized Indian T20 batting. But now, the time has come for him to rethink his approach.”
Samson Must Avoid Mental Doubts
Ashwin also urged Samson to take corrective actions before self-doubt creeps into his subconscious mind. He referenced cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s advice from the recent BCCI Naman Awards, where the batting great stressed the importance of muscle memory.“Sachin Tendulkar said that players must practice so much that their subconscious mind takes over. But if confusion takes over the subconscious, batting becomes a different challenge altogether,” Ashwin explained.
The Bigger Concern: Dismissals Over Failures
Ashwin noted that failing in T20 cricket is inevitable, but the nature of dismissals is what matters most.“As an experienced cricketer, I am not worried about a player failing in T20s, but I do focus on how he gets out and his decision-making. These players are talented enough to find solutions, and I’m sure they are thinking about it.”
England’s Aggressive Tactics Under Scrutiny
Switching focus to England’s recent performances, Ashwin expressed surprise at their aggressive approach across formats, hinting that their strategy is backfiring more often than yielding success.“If I were England, I’d be worried. Whether it’s Bazball, one-day cricket, or T20s, their approach is aggressive, and while they do manage to pull off wins occasionally, they seem to be losing more than they are winning. That is a serious concern,” Ashwin concluded.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, both Samson and Suryakumar will be under scrutiny to rediscover their form and solidify their places in India’s squad.