Gambhir Addresses Sanju Samson's Exclusion from India XI
India head coach confirms the wicketkeeper-batter has been dropped due to form but keeps the door open for a comeback.
Following India's record 125-run defeat to England in the third T20I, head coach Gautam Gambhir has finally addressed the controversy surrounding Sanju Samson's absence from the playing XI. Samson, who was the Player of the Tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup, was dropped after poor scores against Ireland and in the first T20I against England. The decision sparked widespread protests on social media, with fans accusing Gambhir of not backing the batter.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir clarified that Samson's omission was purely based on recent form. "We are absolutely clear that Sanju, whatever he has done during World Cup 2026, has been phenomenal. Sometimes, you just have to look at the form of certain players," Gambhir said. He stressed that there is no hard-and-fast rule preventing Samson from returning and that every player must earn their place in the squad.
The backlash intensified after Samson was left out of the T20I squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. However, Gambhir's statement suggests that the door remains open for the 31-year-old, provided he regains his touch. India's heavy loss at Trent Bridge, their biggest in T20Is, has only added to the scrutiny on the team management's selection calls.