Thiruvananthapuram, January 30, 2026:
Ahead of the final T20 International against New Zealand, a light-hearted moment between India captain Suryakumar Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has taken social media by storm. The Indian team arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, where a candid airport video captured Suryakumar playfully poking fun at his teammate, drawing smiles from fans and viewers alike.
In the viral clip, Suryakumar can be heard addressing people at the airport with a grin, saying, “Please give way, and don’t trouble our chetta,” using the Malayalam word for elder brother. The comment left Sanju Samson visibly amused, as he smiled and continued walking alongside the captain.
While the moment appeared humorous, it also came at a significant juncture in Samson’s career. The ongoing T20I series has been a challenging one for the Kerala batter, who will now get the opportunity to play his first international match at home, in front of his local supporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
Despite having travelled to the city multiple times with the Indian team in the past, Samson has never before represented India here in an international fixture. The final T20I thus holds emotional as well as professional importance for him, offering a chance to silence critics and rediscover form ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Recently promoted to open the innings in place of Shubman Gill, Samson has struggled to convert starts. He has failed to register a half-century in the series and crossed the powerplay only twice. Across four matches, he has managed just 40 runs. However, there were signs of improvement in the previous game at Visakhapatnam, where he scored 24 off 15 balls, providing a glimpse of his attacking potential.
As India prepare for the series decider, all eyes will be on Sanju Samson—playing on home soil, backed by familiar faces, and carrying the hope of turning a difficult series into a defining moment.
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