Sanju Samson Finger Injury update in IND vs ENG T20I

Sanju Samson Undergoes Surgery After Finger Injury in IND vs ENG T20I

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has undergone surgery after suffering a finger injury during the 5th T20I against ENG at Wankhede Stadium earlier this month. The injury occurred when Jofra Archer’s fast delivery struck Samson’s index finger, causing immediate bleeding.

Despite receiving medical attention on the field, Samson continued to bat but was dismissed soon after and did not return for the second innings. His absence raised concerns over his fitness ahead of IPL 2025, where he is set to lead Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Samson's Injury Forces Him Out of Final T20I

After his dismissal in the 5th T20I, Samson did not take the field as Dhruv Jurel stepped in as the wicketkeeper for IND. The incident has sparked worries among RR fans, as the franchise will be hoping for their captain’s full recovery before the IPL season begins.

RR shared a post-surgery photo of Samson on social media, captioning it:
"Get well soon, skipper. #RoyalsFamily."

Rayudu Highlights Samson’s Short-Ball Struggles

Former IND cricketer Ambati Rayudu analyzed Samson’s vulnerability against short-pitched deliveries during the T20I series against ENG.

Speaking on Star Sports, Rayudu pointed out that Samson’s struggles weren’t a mental issue, but rather a technical flaw in his batting.

“When you make room and your back leg moves towards leg stump, your arms don’t open up when playing the pull shot,” Rayudu explained.

Short-Ball Woes Continue for Samson

Samson endured a difficult series against ENG, being dismissed four times to short-pitched bowling.

4th T20I – Dismissed by Saqib Mahmood off a bouncer in his first match of the series.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd T20Is – Jofra Archer troubled Samson with short balls, leading to dismissals in all three matches.

According to ESPNcricinfo, 9 out of 18 times Samson has been dismissed by seamers in T20Is were due to short-pitched deliveries. Meanwhile, Cricbuzz reports that out of the 36 balls he faced in the ENG series, 23 were short deliveries.

Another revealing stat: 11 of Samson’s 13 T20I dismissals in the Powerplay have come against pacers.

Samson Left Out of ODI Squad & Champions Trophy

Samson’s exclusion from IND’s ODI squad against ENG and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has further dampened his prospects.

His next possible international assignment could be a white-ball series in BAN later this year. However, his lack of game time in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and missing a key preparatory camp led to his omission from the Champions Trophy squad.

Will Samson Recover in Time for IPL 2025?

As IPL 2025 approaches, RR fans will be eager to see if their captain can regain full fitness before the tournament. The franchise will be closely monitoring his recovery, hoping he can lead the team in yet another exciting IPL season.