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India’s national cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has finally spoken openly on the exclusion of Kerala’s star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson from the playing eleven in the ongoing T20 series against the England national cricket team.
Gautam Gambhir said that he has given an explanation to Sanju Samson about his ignoring and he has had a personal conversation with the wicketkeeper-batsman, which will remain private. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir was welcomed with slogans of ‘We want Sanju Samson’ after the defeat in the third T20 match.
Sanju Samson out of playing eleven against England, also out of Zimbabwe tour
Sanju Samson was first dropped from the playing eleven midway through the England series and then dropped from the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe.
Samson was dropped from the second T20I against England after scores of 5, 0 and 1 in the Ireland and England series, with teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi replacing him at the top of the order.
However, Cricinfo reported that those three low scores were not the primary reason behind his being dropped from the Zimbabwe team. According to reports, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar saw the Zimbabwe tour as an opportunity to test marginalized players.
Since Samson is already part of India’s plans for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, the selectors have reportedly decided to give Punjab Kings opener Prabhsimran Singh a chance to gain international exposure.
Prabhsimran Singh has been included in the squad after impressive performances in the IPL in the last two seasons and recent performances for India A in the tri-series in Sri Lanka. The decision has nonetheless sparked widespread debate as it comes just months after Samson played a key role in India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign.
He finished as the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament and was named Player of the Tournament after scoring three consecutive match-winning half-centuries in the knockout stage. He continued that form in IPL 2026 and became the leading run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings with two centuries. Yet his continued omission from the final eleven and the Zimbabwean team has inevitably raised questions over the intense competition for places.
With fast-rising Vaibhav Suryavanshi now in the team along with Ishan Kishan and Prabhsimran Singh, Samson faces another challenge in earning a regular place despite his recent achievements.
Gautam Gambhir called Sanju Samson an insult, hid personal conversations
Speaking to the media after India’s 125-run defeat to England in the third T20I, Gautam Gambhir lauded Sanju Samson’s performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but said he was forced to look at the current form as well while deciding on the playing XI.
“I have already given Sanju Samson the clarity he needs and this discussion will remain between the coach and the player only,” Gambhir told reporters.
“As far as clarity is concerned, we are absolutely clear that what Sanju has done for India during the World Cup is phenomenal and sometimes you also have to look at the form of a particular player.”
And there is no strict rule that he cannot make a comeback in this series – Gautam Gambhir on Sanju Samson
The India head coach further confirmed that Sanju Samson is likely to return to India’s playing XI in the ongoing series against England as the visitors go down 0-2 after the latest setback.
Gautam Gambhir said, “And there is no hard and fast rule that he can’t make a comeback in this series. And more importantly, ultimately international cricket is about the result. So, whatever we feel is the best combination to give a result, we play that combination, we play that last 11, and I have always believed that everyone needs to earn their place. Everyone needs to earn the right to play for India.”
Shreyas Iyer has had an absolutely terrible start as T20I captain as he lost the two-match T20I series to Ireland on debut, and his team is currently trailing 0-2 against England, with a draw being the best possible result for the visitors.
Speaking on India’s recent struggles under Shreyas Iyer, Gautam Gambhir said that he has not adapted well to the conditions, which has led to his downfall.
“We have not adapted well. Be it Ireland or England, this is the reality. The results are in front of you. If we had adapted well, played better cricket, we would not have lost four matches in a row,” he said.
