India’s first training session in Delhi had the feel of a side enjoying itself. The Arun Jaitley Stadium rang with loud hits, jokes, and the thud of catches under lights. Yet one figure moved through the noise differently.
Sanju Samson trained like a man running out of time.
A lively camp, a serious subplot
The session began with a sharp warning from captain Suryakumar Yadav. Anyone near the boundary ropes was told to face the pitch, not the stands. The ball was flying.
Fielding coach T Dilip set the tone with clean striking during catching drills. Hardik Pandya’s voice carried across the ground as he celebrated towering takes. The mood was loose, even after India’s early scare in their opener against the USA.
Then the batting groups padded up. And Samson’s body language shifted the focus.
Sanju Samson nets vs Ishan Kishan in a contrast you could hear
Samson hit alongside Ishan Kishan, the wicketkeeper who replaced him in the XI. The difference was not subtle.
Kishan’s timing echoed through the empty Kotla stands. He sent balls into the mid-wicket and long-on seats with a rhythm that sounded settled.
Samson, by contrast, appeared to be searching. Against pace, he looked hesitant. The flow that usually defines his batting did not arrive easily. He tried to find it through repetition, shot by shot.
Spin brought relief, but pressure stayed
A move to the spin nets helped. Facing bowlers like Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, Samson looked more comfortable. His footwork improved. The strokes came with fewer doubts.
Still, the wider picture remained. Others trained with the freedom of players secure in their roles. Samson trained with the urgency of a player chasing a narrow opening.
The extra work that spoke louder than words
When his scheduled net time ended, Samson did not head away. Instead, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak took him aside for a separate, high-intensity set of throwdowns near the boundary.
It was technical and focused. It was also quiet. The two spoke in short bursts, away from the banter elsewhere. The session ended with a brief embrace and a supportive pat from Kotak.
Even after that, Samson lingered. He stood alone on the field, watching the rest of the squad continue.
Selection stakes and what could change next
India’s selection picture remains fluid, shaped by fitness and form. Abhishek Sharma missed training as he continued recovering from illness. That could open a door, even if only slightly.
However, signs from the session suggested one thing. Wicketkeeping duties look set to remain with Kishan, who also did light keeping drills after his extended hitting.
Samson’s path back appears to rest on a simple demand. Score runs, and do it soon.
Other takeaways from India’s Delhi session
There were encouraging notes elsewhere in the camp.
Washington Sundar returned to a full session after recovering from a rib muscle tear. He bowled a tidy spell and then showcased power with several big hits.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube turned the later nets into a six-hitting contest. Hardik combined a long bowling spell with heavy striking. Dube attacked the spinners with freedom.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled at full pace after missing the USA game due to illness. He is expected to build rhythm ahead of the high-stakes Pakistan clash.
As India’s training stayed loud and confident, Samson’s work felt different. It was quieter, harder, and more personal. In a booming camp, his message was clear: he is still fighting to be part of the XI.