itstargetnews
as indian cricket team The fifth and final T20I game touches down in the coastal city of Thiruvananthapuram New Zealand On January 31, the atmosphere was filled with both tremendous pressure and relaxed friendship. While the Men in Blue have already sealed the series with a commanding 3-1 lead, the final showdown at Greenfield International Stadium will serve as the final dress rehearsal for this series. ICC Men’s T20 World Cupscheduled to begin a few weeks from now. Among the headlines, a moment from Thiruvananthapuram airport captured the hearts of fans: T20I captain Suryakumar YadavA playful “bodyguard” performance for a local hero Sanzhou Samson.
Suryakumar Yadav serves as bodyguard of Sanju Samson in Thiruvananthapuram
Samson’s return has always been a grand event in Kerala, but this time, the captain decided to add a little wisdom to the arrival. As the team made its way through a sea of enthusiastic fans and cameras at the airport, Suryakumar walked up to Samson and imitated a stern private security guard.
With a mischievous smile, Surya shouted to the crowd and media personnel: “Please give way, get out of the way! Don’t disturb Cheta!The word Chetta, a term of endearment in Malayalam that means “big brother”, sent the surrounding fans into a frenzy. Samson, a cricketing icon in the state who often carries the weight of expectations, was torn in half, smiling as he followed his captain to the team bus. The light-hearted moment showcased the deep bond within the team even as the stakes of the final game remained high.
Here is the video:
for @IamSanjuSamson In 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 😉
🎥 Don’t miss the banter between friend Sanju Samson and Captain Surya Kumar Yadav 😄#IndiaTeam | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFirst Bank | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/zBAFPmZJGk
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 30, 2026
Also read: Suresh Raina names shocker as India’s potential century scorer for T20 World Cup 2026
Samson’s batting form and contention for 2026 T20 World Cup
Despite the airport jokes, Samson’s cricketing reality became increasingly tense. The Kerala stumper has struggled to find his rhythm in this series, scoring just 40 runs in four innings (10, 6, 0 and 24). His recent dismissal in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam, in which he fell for 24 after his first start, has fueled the debate over his consistency at the international level.
The timing of this lean patch is particularly sensitive. and Ishan Kishan Samson has performed well and the squad selection for the 2026 T20 World Cup has been finalized, with his place in the starting XI attracting much attention. Legendary Beyblade Ravichandran Ashwin Recently noticed that Samson may be playing “clouded mind“Feeling the intensity of the game.
With the play ending in his lair, the fifth T20I represents a high-stakes opportunity for Samson to quell criticism. For the Indian team management, the battle in Thiruvananthapuram is not about the series trophy already in the pocket, but about ensuring that their key players are mentally and technically ready for the global stage.
