'I was too bored to play under him' - Sanju Samson takes playful jibe at Stephen Fleming amid NZ vs IND T20Is

Sanju Samson made a playful comment about his experience under Stephen Fleming during the 2026 Indian Premier League season. Fleming was the coach of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 and is now part of the commentary panel for the T20I series between India and New Zealand. The opening T20I between the two teams was scheduled for Thursday, October 22, in Christchurch.

Fleming had revealed that Samson took up painting during the 2026 IPL season. Speaking ahead of the series, the 31-year-old India batter responded with a lighthearted remark about his time under the former New Zealand captain's coaching.

"I think I was too bored to play under him, maybe that's why I took painting. That was going really well during the IPL, but now I have many things to consider while I'm here. So yes, enjoying my time," Samson said while speaking to the host broadcaster ahead of the first T20I.

Finding his own mental approach to cricket

Samson has been in strong form recently. In the series against West Indies, he scored 168 runs with two fifties. He spoke about finding his own rhythm and mental approach to the game. He explained that every player has their own way of preparing mentally for international cricket.

"Definitely, you need to find your own patterns. You need to find your own mental state. Everyone has their own mantras to actually be at their best mental state here. I think, it definitely took me a while, but I can say that I found out my own way to enjoy myself here," Samson said.

Excitement about the New Zealand tour

The batter also shared his thoughts on touring and the opportunity to play for India. He highlighted the support Indian players receive during international assignments and expressed enthusiasm about the New Zealand leg of the tour.

"Travel was really nice. I think you get that luxury of being an Indian player. We are well taken care of. Everything was very nice. I think coming to New Zealand is always very refreshing. Good people, good climate, good atmosphere to come and play a great brand of cricket," Samson said.

Samson emphasised his eagerness to play more matches for the country at this stage of his career. He expressed excitement about the upcoming series and the chance to contribute to India's T20I campaign.

"The more you play, the better. I think we are at the stage of our career where we love coming in, coming out and playing for the country more. So very much excited," he said.