Kotak hails Samson’s fearless 67 as India pull off record T20I chase against New Zealand
India complete highest successful T20I chase in Christchurch
India opened their five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a four-wicket win in Christchurch, completing a record successful run chase with two balls remaining. Set 226 after New Zealand posted 225, India finished on 230 for 6, their highest-ever successful chase in T20I cricket.
Sanju Samson smashed a 33-ball 67, including a 93-run opening stand in the Powerplay with Abhishek Sharma, to set the platform. A middle-order wobble brought the chase back into contention before Naman Dhir struck an unbeaten 42 off just 15 deliveries to seal the victory.
Kotak: The mindset shift is what excites me
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak moved beyond praising skill to highlight the intangible belief shown by the openers.
“In world cricket, sometimes we talk about how the runs are increasing, the pitches and all that. But the way batters’ belief is growing, it is unbelievable,” Kotak said.
“Sanju is an outstanding, power-packed player,” Kotak said. “The way he and Abhishek [Sharma] approached [the chase] yesterday. It may seem natural given the high scores that are posted… But, if you ever put yourself in the place of a batter, and think that you have to hit 3-4 sixes in the first two overs, you will also be afraid of getting out.”
Kotak added: “Overcoming all that, and the way they are showing the intent, that excites me. Really, it is amazing, that on top of power, talent, and intent, and everything, controlling their mind also, to get them into that fearless attitude. That is something.”
Samson: I don’t play to prove anyone wrong
Samson, who top-scored with 67 off 33, said the team’s aggressive template is deliberate and sustained since the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.
“To be very honest, you can’t focus on what people on social media or others are saying. You have to stay committed to the process and create the right environment for yourself. Playing for Indian cricket is not easy, with so much noise and so many people having their own opinions. But I don’t play this game with the mindset of proving anyone wrong. I keep my cricket at the forefront, trust my process, respect my practice and focus on doing the best I can. I like to keep things simple and stay focused on what I can control, rather than letting outside opinions influence my mindset,” Samson told reporters after the match.
On the approach, Samson said: “We approach the powerplay, middle overs and death overs very differently. Even when chasing 170, if we get off to a flying start, we make sure we try to finish the game in the powerplay itself. That’s something we’ve been doing really well over the last couple of years.”
Sooryavanshi waits, Dhir impresses
Kotak was asked about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s lack of game time despite being in the squad. The teenager has been in and around the team since his IPL exploits but has served mainly as backup to the openers, with captain Shreyas Iyer stressing the learning curve.
“He is young. But to be very honest, not just me, the way the entire team management handles him… I look at him from a neutral perspective, but it is amazing because everyone likes him. The public likes him, social media likes him, the team also likes him. He has that talent. But just because of that, or that everyone likes him, you can’t make changes in the playing 11,” Kotak said.
“He is very talented, and I actually feel that he has a bright, bright future ahead. Once he plays, he gets his opportunities and settles down, he will learn a lot of things. At the start, I felt there was a lot of hype that he should play. I genuinely felt that such hype is not good for a player as well, for a young 15-16 years old boy, that everyone is saying that he should play, and he is not getting a place.”
With Ishan Kishan injured and the only other top-order batter in the squad, Sooryavanshi’s chances could rise as early as the next T20I.
Kotak also highlighted Naman Dhir’s all-round impact. “Naman Dhir, in the last six to eight balls, in the Bangalore match what he did, we know that he is capable of doing that. He is a very exciting talent. His role in the last match was very, very important. He is a power-packed player. He knows what is expected from him. And he does exactly that, which is a great sign,” Kotak said.
“In T20s, if a team has a lot of left-handers, he can bowl four overs. Or if there is an equal balance of right and left handers, he can bowl two overs or one. And he is someone who can also field really well and bat, who can make an impact in batting in the finisher’s role.”
India lead the five-match series 1-0, with the second T20I next on the schedule.