# Sanju Samson selection and performance in Indian T20I squad > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sanju-samson-selection-and-performance-in-indian-t20i-squad > Updated: 2026-10-10T03:00:58.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 6. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir recently addressed the selection of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson following a period of inconsistent form. During a series against England, Samson was omitted from the squad due to low scores, a move Gambhir described as the “toughest decision of my tenure.” The management had instead opted to trial young talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who also struggled to produce significant scores. Samson has since regained momentum, recording two half-centuries and a strike rate of 180 during a series against Afghanistan. Gambhir defended Samson’s continued inclusion, noting that T20 cricket relies on impact and citing Samson’s previous status as Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup victory. Former batter Anjum Chopra also supported the player, advocating for more stability to alleviate the pressure of selection scrutiny. However, Samson’s form has recently faltered again. During the first T20I against the West Indies in Lucknow, Samson was dismissed for 11 runs off nine balls, marking his fourth consecutive low score in T20I cricket following unsuccessful outings in the 2026 Asian Games and matches against Japan and Pakistan. This performance drew visible frustration from Gambhir and renewed scrutiny regarding his decision to favor Samson over Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the starting lineup. In response to the ongoing debate, former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has voiced support for Samson ahead of the second T20I against the West Indies. Pujara argued that Samson’s place in the XI should not be questioned, suggesting he is at the peak of his career and should be given the opportunity to open the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma. Pujara further advised that young prospect Vaibhav Suryavanshi should wait for the right opportunity to gain experience rather than being rushed into the lineup. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-10: Sanju Samson matches cricket records despite India loss Sanju Samson equalled records held by Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh with an 82-run knock, but India lost to the West Indies in Ranchi, leveling the T20I series 1-1. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sanju-samson-matches-cricket-records-despite-india-loss ### 2026-10-06: Sanju Samson struggles in India's T20I against West Indies India head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed frustration after Sanju Samson scored only 11 runs in the first T20I against the West Indies, marking Samson's fourth consecutive low T20I score. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sanju-samson-struggles-in-indias-t20i-against-west-indies ### 2026-10-06: Cheteshwar Pujara backs Sanju Samson for India T20I series Cheteshwar Pujara has backed Sanju Samson to maintain his place in India's T20I squad against the West Indies, citing his World Cup experience and current form. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cheteshwar-pujara-backs-sanju-samson-for-india-t20i-series ### 2026-09-23: Gautam Gambhir defends India's T20I form and reflects on coaching challenges India head coach Gautam Gambhir defended his team's recent T20I form and identified dropping Sanju Samson as his toughest coaching decision to date. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gautam-gambhir-defends-indias-t20i-form-and-reflects-on-coaching-challenges ### 2026-09-19: Sanju Samson earns support from Gambhir after strong T20I return Sanju Samson has bolstered his position in India’s T20I squad with strong performances against Afghanistan, earning backing from head coach Gautam Gambhir and former player Anjum Chopra. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sanju-samson-earns-support-from-gambhir-after-strong-t20i-return ### 2026-09-18: Gautam Gambhir addresses Sanju Samson's exclusion from England series India head coach Gautam Gambhir called dropping Sanju Samson during the England series the “toughest decision” of his tenure due to the player's recent low scoring. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gautam-gambhir-addresses-sanju-samsons-exclusion-from-england-series --- Cite as: Sanju Samson selection and performance in Indian T20I squad. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sanju-samson-selection-and-performance-in-indian-t20i-squad