India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that Sanju Samson has received full clarification regarding his role following his removal from the playing XI and did not rule out the wicketkeeper-batter making a comeback in the current Twenty20 International series against England.
Additionally, Samson is not included in the team for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe.
Gambhir maintained that the senior player remains in India’s plans in the five-match series, which the visitors trail 0-2 after two losses and a washout.
“The clarity that should have been given to Sanju Samson, he has got from me. And that conversation is between a head coach and a player. The contents of that conversation are obviously not something I’ll share with you,” PTI quoted Gambhir as saying after India’s 125-run defeat in the third T20I in Nottingham on Tuesday.
“…we are absolutely clear that what Sanju has done for India, especially during the World Cup, has been phenomenal. Sometimes, though, you also have to look at the form of a certain player. There is no hard and fast rule that he cannot make a comeback in this series.”
After scoring 5, 0, and 1 in his last three innings against Ireland and in the series opener against England, Samson—who was named Player of the Tournament in this year’s T20 World Cup—was replaced in the playing XI by 15-year-old batting phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Due to Prabhsimran Singh’s outstanding batting performance for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026 earlier this year, the 31-year-old was also left out of the squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
According to Gambhir, the side that gives India the best chance of winning would still be chosen based on their present performance.
“Ultimately, international cricket is about results. Whatever we feel is the best combination to get us those results, we will play that combination and that playing XI,” he said.
“I’ve always believed that everyone needs to earn their place. Everyone needs to earn the right to play for India,” he added.
