Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was dropped from the playing eleven of Team India, captained by Mitchell Marsh, for the third T20 match of the five-match series against Australia. Samson was replaced by Jitesh Sharma, who had played only one innings in the series, to win the match at Bellerive Oval, Hobart on Sunday, 2 November.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and decided to bowl first. The visiting team made three changes in its playing eleven. Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh replaced Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yada, V and Harshit Rana. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood was rested and Sean Abbott was recalled.
Sanju Samson got out after scoring just 2 runs in the second T20 match at MCG.
Sanju Samson was sent to No. 3 after the early dismissal of Shubman Gill. However, he struggled in difficult batting conditions and fell LBW for only two runs. The reshuffle in India’s batting order had the opposite effect and they could score only 125 runs. Australia achieved it with six overs remaining.
Samson’s form has declined since being removed from the starting spot. He was successful as an opening batsman till Asia Cup 2025. With the return of Gill at the top, the Kerala batsman has been shifted to the middle order, where he has averaged below 27 with only one half-century in five innings.
Overall, Samson has scored 995 runs in 51 T20I matches for India at a strike rate of 147.40, with three half-centuries and three centuries to his name.
Sanju Samson – Jitesh Sharma came in place of Suryakumar Yadav.
At the time of the toss, Suryakumar Yadav announced three changes to India’s lineup, but did not clarify whether Sanju Samson was injured or simply ruled out.
Surya said, “Actually we have got three changes. Jitesh Sharma has come in place of Sanju Samson. Harshit Rana has come in place of Arshdeep Singh. Washington Sundar has come in place of Kuldeep Yadav.”
The series started with a rain-defeated defeat in Canberra. Australia has taken a 1-0 lead in the series after winning by four wickets in Melbourne. With the hosts in the lead, India will be looking to bounce back in Hobart and register their first win of the tour.
Fans criticized Gautam Gambhir after Sanju Samson was dropped from the playing eleven in the third T20 match.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir for his final XI selection. Many mocked Sanju Samson for shuffling the batting order and ultimately leaving him out of the eleven.
To include Shubman Gill in the team
Players like Jaiswal were dropped from the team
Sanju Samson was dropped after scoring 3 centuries in T20I.
Shame on Gautam Gambhir and Surya Kumar. pic.twitter.com/4XikgwOGzN
– Dhruv Thakur (@Dhruv_Thakur___) 2 November 2025
Can’t understand why Sanju Samson was dropped. He gave up his position where he scored 3 centuries in a short span of time and now when the team management experiments with him and he does not score it means there is no support for Sanju. BCCI is ashamed of itself Gill . pic.twitter.com/B80EuqSYXl
– Ayush Ranjan (@AyushRaGenius17) 2 November 2025
After just one failure, Sanju Samson was out of the playing 11.
Shubman Gill is still opening for Team India.
Surya Kumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir, you should be ashamed.
– Dhruv Thakur (@Dhruv_Thakur___) 2 November 2025
Instead of dropping Sanju Samson in place of Jitesh Sharma, India should have dropped the out-of-form Shubham Gill and brought Sanju back as an opener, where he has been performing well.
complete injustice to #sanjusamson#AUSvIND– Varun (@NambiarTweets) 2 November 2025
Sanju Samson was promoted to three in the last game, failed and was dropped in the next game??#AUSvIND
– Peeyush Sharma (@peeyushsharmaa) 2 November 2025
Why don’t we raise our voice against injustice against Sanju Samson.
Our best wicketkeeper, opener Sanju Samson has been dropped because of Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill.
Feel for Sanju pic.twitter.com/tcF9m4CamL
– Abhishek Kumar (@abhishek060722) 2 November 2025
Shubman Gill You will never see heaven.
Now, because of you Sanju Samson has been dropped from playing XL.
you should be ashamed pic.twitter.com/hrAxLym4Ry
– Abhishek Kumar (@abhishek060722) 2 November 2025
Sanju Samson should now announce his retirement.
Surya said that even if he scores unlimited 0s, he will still stay there.
Gill’s inclusion in the T20 squad ruined a team that was performing well https://t.co/AEUDfWb7VO– Sudhanshu (@sud2rock) 2 November 2025
S Samson’s story in recent times
– S Samson did well as an opening batsman, yet was demoted to fit the so-called Prince
– After this the batting position kept changing, due to which Sanju’s form deteriorated.
– To be honest, I realized this result the day Sanju was demoted. pic.twitter.com/qdonfj6GdE
If Sanju Samson had learned the art of playing selfish cricket, he would have been a world champion.
Had he done so, he would have been a permanent member in all three formats.– Troll Cricket Unlimited (@TUnlimitedd) 2 November 2025
Also read: Umar Akmal congratulates Pakistan for defeating the invisible third team in bilateral series
