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Sanju Samson selection and performance in Indian T20I squad

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2026-10-08 06:43 UTC → 2026-10-10 13:41 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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