Sanju Samson was dropped after scoring 6 runs in his last three T20I innings.
Surprisingly, Team India opener Sanju Samson was left out of the 15-man roster for the forthcoming T20 International series in Zimbabwe later this month. Fans and experts were shocked to see Samson's name absent from yesterday's (July 6) squad announcement.
Both his supporters and the cricket community are shocked by this, particularly after India benched him for the most recent second T20I match against England in Manchester, allowing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his Men in Blue T20I debut.
Samson, who recently scored six runs in three T20Is while touring the UK, hasn't been playing at his best. Not to be overlooked, though, Samson won Player of the Tournament in India's 2026 T20 World Cup victory with a best score of 97* and 321 runs in 5 innings.
Current head coach Gautam Gambhir's previous posts on X (previously Twitter) applauding Samson and challenging his unfair treatment went popular on social media shortly after the roster was revealed. Earlier in the year, Team India won the T20 World Cup thanks in large part to the Kerala cricket player.
When Gambhir was an expert on several platforms, he praised Samson as the best gloveman in India and urged the management to always choose him for the squad.
"It’s weird that the only playing eleven Sanju Samson doesn’t find a place is that of India, rest almost everyone is ready for him with open arms,” Gambhir posted.
It’s weird that the only playing eleven Sanju Samson doesn’t find a place is that of India, rest almost everyone is ready for him with open arms @rajasthanroyals @IPL @BCCI
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 22, 2020
Gambhir also said about Samson during IPL 2019: "I normally don’t like to talk about individuals in cricket. But seeing his skills I am glad to note that Sanju Samson is currently the best Wicketkeeper batsman in India. For me he should be batting number 4 in the World Cup."
I normally don’t like to talk about individuals in cricket. But seeing his skills I am glad to note that Sanju Samson is currently the best Wicketkeeper batsman in India. For me he should be batting number 4 in the World Cup @BCCI @rajasthanroyals @IPL @StarSportsIndia
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2019
Meanwhile, Dodda Ganesh, a former pacer for Team India, criticized the management for not including Sanju Samson in the team for the forthcoming T20Is against Zimbabwe. After his outstanding performance at the 2026 T20 World Cup, the 31-year-old has only managed six runs in his past three T20I innings.
"Sanju Samson has every reason to feel hard done by. The batter who helped India win its third T20 WC being booted out after just 3 games is simply ridiculous. He deserved better treatment," said Dodda Ganesh, who posted on X.
Sanju Samson has every reason to feel hard done by. The batter who helped India win its third T20 WC being booted out after just 3 games is simply ridiculous. He deserved better treatment #INDVZIM
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) July 6, 2026
Reports have stated that Samson has been rested and not dropped from the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe series. Samson remains part of the Indian squad for the Asian Games that follows the Zimbabwe series.