Samson turns it airborne | T20WC 2026

Samson turns it airborne T20WC 2026

Oh my god guys did you SEE what Sanju Samson did last night? I am still screaming! My neighbors probably think I am crazy but I DON’T CARE! Sanju Samson played his FIRST EVER T20 World Cup match against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi and he went FULL AIRPLANE MODE! He hit the ball so high it almost touched the moon I think.

So here is the story. India was playing Namibia and everyone was like “where is Abhishek Sharma?” Because Abhishek opened the batting against USA and played so good but then he got SUPER SICK. Like tummy upset and viral fever and he was in hospital and everything! Poor guy! The captain Suryakumar Yadav said before the match, “Abhishek is still not fine; he will miss a game or two.” That means his tummy is still making trouble. Get well soon Abhishek.

So who will open now? Who will come in? And then BAM! Sanju Samson walked out with Ishan Kishan and my whole family started shouting! SANJU! SANJU! SANJU! Because we was waiting SO LONG to see him play in World Cup! He got dropped before you know, after the New Zealand series where he didn’t score many runs. But now he got his chance and BOY OH BOY did he take it.

The Sanju Samson Show!

Sanju only faced EIGHT balls. EIGHT! And he scored 22 runs! That is like 2.75 runs every ball! Crazy stuff! And guess what? ALL his runs came from boundaries! No running, no singles, no doubles – just SIX and FOUR and SIX and SIX! That’s called “airborne” because the ball is always flying in the air like a bird!

His first ball in T20 World Cup history – he almost got out! He nearly nicked one behind the wicketkeeper but missed by thisssss much. Phew! Close shave! Then he played three dot balls and everyone was getting nervous. Like “oh no Sanju please don’t fail please please please!”

And then… OH THEN!

The fourth ball of the over. Ruben Trumplemann bowling. Sanju stands tall. He swings his bat like Thor swinging Mjolnir. And CRACK! The ball goes STRAIGHT down the ground, over the bowler’s head, over the sightscreen, out of the stadium, into another dimension! SIX! His first runs in World Cup is a SIX! I ran around my living room three times! My mom said sit down I said NO MOMMA THIS IS HISTORY!

Then the second over came. Ben Shikongo bowling. Sanju got strike on the third ball. And then… BANG! Another six behind square leg! BANG! Another six behind square leg AGAIN! Back to back sixes! The crowd was ROARING! I was roaring! My dog was barking! Everyone was going crazy!

And then he wasn’t done! Next ball – FOUR over extra cover! Crisp, clean, beautiful shot! That’s 16 runs in three balls! That’s like scoring a century in school exam in one minute!

Then the last ball of the over. Sanju tried to hit another six. He hit it high, high, HIGH… but Louren Steenkamp at deep mid-wicket caught it. Out for 22. Sad ending but WHAT A 22! The best 22 runs you will ever see! He faced only 8 balls and hit 3 sixes and 1 four! That’s called IMPACT!

Why Was Sanju Playing?

Okay so let me explain why Sanju got this chance. Abhishek Sharma was the opener with Ishan Kishan in the first match against USA. But Abhishek got a upset stomach and viral fever when the team came to Delhi. He had to go to hospital for check-ups and everything! The Indian Express news said he was admitted but then discharged. But he was still too sick to play. 

He also missed the practice session at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday. So team doctors said “no no, you rest, you cannot play.” So Sanju got the call! And he was READY!

Captain Suryakumar Yadav said before toss, “Abhishek is still not fine; he will miss a game or two. Sanju comes in, similar batter, explosive.” SIMILAR BATTER! EXPLOSIVE! That means boom boom with the bat! And Sanju proved exactly that!

What This Means for India?

Now everyone is asking – will Sanju play against Pakistan on February 15? Will Abhishek be fit? Who will open? Ishan Kishan opened both matches and did okay. Abhishek was good against USA. Sanju just played a GEM of an innings. So who gets dropped? 

That’s the problem with having too many good players! India has like 20 openers who can all hit sixes! It’s like having too many chocolates – which one do you eat first? Tough choice! But this is a good problem to have.

Coach Ryan ten Doeschate said they will decide based on pitch and conditions. But after this innings, Sanju Samson has definitely made his case STRONG. 22 runs in 8 balls with 3 sixes? That’s a statement! That’s him saying “I AM READY FOR PAKISTAN!” 

My Thoughts on Sanju Samson

You know I have always loved Sanju Samson. Since his Rajasthan Royals days. He is so stylish! He makes batting look easy. He hits sixes like he is playing with a tennis ball in his garden. But sometimes he gets out early and people say bad things about him. 

But this innings showed everyone what he can do on the big stage. World Cup. Full crowd. Pressure situation. And he just… played his natural game. No fear. No nervousness. Just Sanju being Sanju. That’s why we love him.

I hope he gets more chances. I hope he plays against Pakistan. I hope he hits sixes off Shaheen Afridi! That would be the DREAM! Imagine Sanju hitting Shaheen for six over sightscreen in Colombo! I will cry tears of joy.

Other News from India vs Namibia

Oh also India won the match very easily. But that’s not the main story. The main story is SANJU! But yes, India scored big runs and bowled out Namibia cheaply. Another win, another two points. India is looking strong for the Pakistan match.

Suryakumar Yadav also batted beautifully. Ishan Kishan played some good shots. The bowlers did their job. But everyone is only talking about Sanju’s 8-ball 22. That’s how special it was.

Conclusion

So yeah. Sanju Samson made his T20 World Cup debut and he MADE IT COUNT. 8 balls. 22 runs. 3 sixes. 1 four. 1 dropped catch almost. 1 caught on the boundary. Entertainment guaranteed.

Now we wait for February 15. India vs Pakistan. Colombo. All eyes on who opens for India. Will it be Sanju? Will it be Abhishek? Will it be someone else? I don’t know but I CANNOT WAIT.

Until then, I will keep watching Sanju’s sixes on replay. Over and over and over. My mom says “beta enough cricket” but I say “MAMA THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH CRICKET!”

Let’s go India! Let’s go Sanju! SIXES FOR EVERYONE!

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