{"id":9510,"date":"2026-04-06T08:19:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/?p=9510"},"modified":"2026-04-06T08:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:19:15","slug":"130055203-cms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/?p=9510","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Where\u2019s the passion?\u2019: Sanju Samson under fire as fans question &#8216;intent, hunger&#8217; | Cricket News &#8211; The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130055232,imgsize-47874,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/sanju-samson.jpg\" alt=\"\u2018Where\u2019s the passion?\u2019: Sanju Samson under fire as fans question 'intent, hunger'\" title=\"Chennai Super Kings' wicketkeeper Sanju Samson leaves the ground after losing his wicket. (AP Photo)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Chennai Super Kings' wicketkeeper Sanju Samson leaves the ground after losing his wicket. (AP Photo)\">Chennai Super Kings&#8217; wicketkeeper Sanju Samson leaves the ground after losing his wicket. (AP Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A struggling <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/cricket\/player-profile\/sanju-samson\/61837\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">Sanju Samson<\/a> has found himself at the centre of growing fan frustration as <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/chennai-super-kings\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">Chennai Super Kings<\/a> continue to falter in IPL 2026. The wicketkeeper-batter endured another disappointing outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, extending a lean run that has coincided with CSK\u2019s three consecutive defeats.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>Since his high-profile move from Rajasthan Royals, Samson has struggled to justify expectations, managing scores of just 6, 7 and 9 in his first three matches. His failure to provide strong starts at the top has added to CSK\u2019s woes, especially given his recent success as Player of the Tournament in India\u2019s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Viral fan post questions Samson&#8217;s \u2018hunger and intent\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>While poor form is part of the game, what has particularly irked fans is Samson\u2019s perceived lack of energy and engagement on the field. A viral social media post from a CSK supporter captured the mood:<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>\u201cDear @IamSanjuSamson, <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>If you\u2019re not mentally in it, then step aside for a few games. <!-- -->This isn\u2019t just about runs anymore. Your body language is screaming disinterest. Every time the camera\u2019s on you, you look frustrated and disconnected. Honestly, I\u2019ve never seen you smiling even once. What\u2019s hard to accept is the lack of energy, intent, and fight. Where\u2019s the passion? Where\u2019s the hunger? At least show that you care. Right now, it just doesn\u2019t look like it.<!-- -->\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>The post quickly gained traction, with several fans echoing similar concerns about Samson\u2019s body language as CSK continue their search for a first win this season.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Fleming backs Samson despite poor run<br \/><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>Amid the criticism, head coach <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/stephen-fleming\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">Stephen Fleming<\/a> urged patience, backing Samson to come good as he adapts to a new environment.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/>\u201cIt\u2019s difficult when you\u2019ve been at a franchise for some time. Even though he probably feels comfortable, there\u2019s still an element of belonging and he\u2019s going through the process of connecting with this team,\u201d Fleming said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/>He stressed that the team is still evolving, with multiple changes in the lineup. \u201cThere\u2019s a little bit of work to be done off the field to tighten bonds, but he\u2019s fitted in really well,\u201d he added.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>Fleming also underlined Samson\u2019s intent to bounce back. \u201cHe\u2019s desperate for some runs and to contribute. We saw in the World Cup what he can do. When he gets going, he can be very dangerous. There will be nothing but support and confidence from us as he finds his path in yellow.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/><\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/cricket\/ipl\/top-stories\/wheres-the-passion-sanju-samson-under-fire-as-fans-question-intent-hunger\/articleshow\/130055203.cms\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chennai Super Kings&#8217; wicketkeeper Sanju Samson leaves the ground after losing his wicket. (AP Photo)&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9511,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2339,23841,23842,4412,2870,697,23843,1125],"class_list":["post-9510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-chennai-super-kings","tag-csk-fan-frustration","tag-csk-struggles","tag-ipl-2026","tag-royal-challengers-bengaluru","tag-sanju-samson","tag-stephen-fleming","tag-t20-world-cup"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9510\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}