Former BCCI chief selector Kris Srikkanth has called for Sanju Samson’s return to India’s T20I squad while also suggesting that Abhishek Sharma should be dropped from the side after a string of low scores against Zimbabwe.
Abhishek managed to score only 11 runs in three matches, while Samson was left out of the series that India won 3-0.
After delivering Player-of-the-Tournament performance in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, the wicketkeeper-batter featured in the first three T20Is of the UK tour and was benched for the next three — for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — before returning to the playing XI for the last game.
“Abhishek Sharma has been sorted out in international cricket, right from the World Cup. I think a tough call has to be taken against him now. I feel Sanju will get his chance again now. He will receive a call back 100%. The selectors will have to take a tough call," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Abhishek Sharma entered 2026 as the world’s No. 1 ranked T20I batter, but his ultra-aggressive style led to a major slump. He recorded five ducks in his first eight T20 innings of the year, sparking major debates about his spot in the national side. The southpaw also failed to leave a big mark in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Earlier, Srikkanth had slammed the Indian team management for practicing double standards, pointing out a stark contrast between the consistent backing given to Abhishek and the swift sidelining of Samson.
“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; then why not Samson? Why is this happening with one player and not with the other?" Srikkanth had said.
India’s next scheduled T20I assignment is the 2026 Asian Games in late September, where Samson, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi are all part of the squad. It remains to be seen who will feature in the playing XI as openers.
