Former India captain Kris Srikkanth highlighted the disparity in how Team India management has treated Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, questioning why the former was benched after just three unsuccessful T20Is in the UK while the latter is being given a lengthy run despite his poor form.

Following Abhishek's second failure in Zimbabwe T20Is, Srikkanth made his remarks. Even though India had a 2-0 lead with one game left in the series, the Punjab southpaw only managed 8 runs after making 1 off 8 in the first game.

The left-hander scored two 40s and a half-century against England and Ireland, but this was the fifth straight game in which he failed to reach 20.

“From the World Cup, his (Abhishek’s) international track record has not been very good except for a few knocks. Samson was the MVP of the World Cup. Why does he not get the chance, and Abhishek gets chances like this? It is a very valid question. Abhishek is getting a long rope; so why not Samson? Why is this happening with one player and not with the other? " Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Abhishek scored 141 runs in eight matches at an average of 17.62 during the 2026 T20 World Cup, from which 52 came in the final.

On the other hand, Sanju Samson won the Player of the Tournament for 321 runs in 5 games at a strike rate of 200, including three brilliant fifties in the three knockout games, with the highest score of 97*.

Concerned with Abhishek's present form, Srikkanth advised the left-hander to find a way to spend more time at the crease rather than trying to attack right away.

“I am concerned for Abhishek Sharma. I don’t know what is happening with him all of a sudden. I hope he comes good. He has to find another way of scoring runs. Or the other way out is to probably cool down for a few balls. He is one guy who can always make up. You play at a 100 strike rate for a while and then take it to 200 rather than throwing it away," he said.

India will play the third and final T20I against Zimbabwe on July 26, 2026.