The Indian selectors announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, beginning on July 23, and one omission has dominated the headlines: Sanju Samson.
The wicketkeeper-batter, who played a pivotal role in India's successful ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, was left out of the squad. While the BCCI has not officially clarified the reason behind his absence, reports suggest the selectors have opted to move ahead with other players for the Zimbabwe tour.
Samson
endured a difficult series against Ireland and failed to make an impact in the first T20I against England. However, considering his recent exploits and the role he has played in India's T20 setup, his exclusion has raised several questions.
Here are three reasons why Sanju Samson should not have been dropped:
3. Lack of role clarity could hurt his confidence
One of the biggest concerns surrounding Samson's omission is the lack of continuity. The Kerala batter has often had to fight for opportunities despite delivering when it mattered the most.
As an aggressive opener, Samson's game revolves around attacking the bowlers from the outset. Such players are bound to fail occasionally, especially while playing high-risk cricket. Dropping him after a few low scores could affect his confidence and force him to move away from his natural style of batting.
With teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshialso pushing for a regular place in the XI, Samson's path back into the side could become even tougher. A longer run in the team would have allowed him to play with greater freedom and confidence.
2. He deserved a longer rope after his World Cup heroics
It wasn't long ago that Samson was India's biggest match-winner in the T20 World Cup 2026. After waiting patiently for his opportunity, he grabbed it with both hands and finished as the tournament's Player of the Tournament.
The right-hander amassed 321 runs in just five innings at an outstanding average of 80.25 and a phenomenal strike rate of 199.37, playing crucial knocks in the knockout stages to help India lift their third T20 World Cup title. A player who delivers on the biggest stage generally earns the backing of the team management through a lean patch. Judging Samson solely on a handful of failures after such a remarkable campaign appears harsh.
1. India needed an experienced right-handed opener
India's current T20 batting lineup is heavily dependent on left-handers at the top. With Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi all competing for opening spots, Samson provided an ideal right-handed option capable of balancing the batting order.
His experience also made him a valuable asset. Having featured regularly in India's T20I setup over the last few years, Samson understands the demands of international cricket and has already proven that he can deliver under pressure.
The Zimbabwe series presented an ideal opportunity to allow youngsters to learn alongside an experienced campaigner rather than replacing him altogether. Keeping Samson in the squad would have offered India both stability and flexibility while continuing to build towards bigger assignments later in the year.
