Sanju Samson seen taking classes from Shubman Gill's Mentor ahead of T20 World Cup

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Sanju Samson recently sharpened his skills in a nets session with cricket icon Yuvraj Singh, drawing widespread attention just before the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The viral video captures Yuvraj offering clear pointers on footwork and shot selection, reinforcing his status as a go-to mentor for India's rising stars.

Samson bounced back strongly after the 2024 T20 World Cup, piling up 559 runs in 18 T20Is at a strike rate of 178, featuring three centuries. With Shubman Gill sidelined by poor form and injury, Samson reclaimed the opener's role next to Abhishek Sharma, even as Ishan Kishan presses hard following his 500+ run haul in leading Jharkhand to the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.​​

India's T20I series against New Zealand kicks off January 21, priming the team for their title defense starting February 7. Yuvraj's advice, echoing his impact on players like Gill and Abhishek, aims to boost Samson's reliability during powerplays. This blend of experience and youth signals India's bold approach to dominating T20 batting lineups.

Sanju was part of the T20 World Cup squad in 2024 but didn't get a game. The Kerala player has been oozing with form and after a string of strong performances, he was included in the India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Despite that, Samson won't have any shortage in competition, as southpaw Ishan Kishan has also been picked in the India squad.

Samson is likely to open the innings for India along with Abhishek Sharma as India play the Blackcaps. But the Indian team is still mulling over Tilak Varma, whose participation in the New Zealand series has become uncertain. Tilak suffered a testicular torsion and has already been ruled our of the first three matches. But if his recovery takes more time, Shreyas Iyer can be slotted into the side.