India, April 7 -- Deep-throated chants of 'Sanju, Sanju, Sanju' reverberated around the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26 as India's openers walked out to kick off the first of their four must-win games in the T20 World Cup, against Zimbabwe.

The object of their unchecked adulation seemed unaffected by the approbation, determined to make the most of his inclusion in the playing XI on his own steam for the first time in the tournament. Sanju Samson had made a guest appearance in India's second outing, against Namibia in New Delhi a fortnight earlier, but that was only because Abhishek Sharma was in hospital with a stomach infection. Now, Samson was striding out alongside Abhishek after India were forced into a structural rejig after l...