The Indian cricket team management is facing heat from cricket fans over the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, especially after India suffered an embarrassing 125-run defeat against England in the third T20I at Trent Bridge in West Bridgford on July 7, Tuesday. Following the team’s arrival at Nottingham amid loud chants of “We want Sanju back” from traveling fans, India head coach Gautam Gambhir officially responded to the controversy in a post-match press conference.
Why was Sanju Samson left out of the playing XI?
The team management decided to bench Samson for the second and third T20Is against England to blood 15-year-old rookie sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the top of the order. Samson had entered the series following a lean patch of scores, registering 5 and 0 in Ireland, followed by a lone run in the rain-hit opening T20I in Chester-le-Street.
Despite playing a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup victory just months earlier, these recent low scores prompted the management to look at other combinations, a decision that became debated after India was bundled out for just 76 runs while chasing 202 in the third T20I.
What did Gautam Gambhir say about Samson’s future?
Addressing the media after the loss, head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that the management has absolute clarity on Samson’s role and that he had personally communicated the reasons to the player. Gambhir defended the team selection by explaining that international cricket relies entirely on immediate results and current form.
“We are absolutely clear that what Sanju Samson has done for India at the World Cup has been phenomenal,” Gambhir said.
“Sometimes you just have to look at the form as well of a certain player. There is no hard and fast rule that he cannot make a comeback in this series. Ultimately, international cricket is about results. Whatever we feel is the best combination to give us the results, we play that combination, we play that XI.”
Fans did not like what Gambhir said. One of them commented on the video, “How can you look at someone’s form from 1-2 series, anyone can fail in this span of series or matches. It have been only 3 month of t20i wc and look at sanju performances that too in quarter. Semi and final. Have a good ipl season almost 500 runs.”
How can you look at someone’s form from 1-2 series, anyone can fail in this span of series or matches. It have been only 3 month of t20i wc and look at sanju performances that too in quarter. Semi and final. Have a good ipl season almost 500 runs.
— Akshay Soođ (@Akshay____18) July 8, 2026
Fans furious over India’s selection for Zimbabwe tour
The fan anger only grew after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe starting July 23. Samson was omitted from the squad, with wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh taking his spot instead.
“Big question : 1st why we had changed our WC winning combination that also after only lossing three matches, if you really believe in some player then stick with him in his bad phase. Rest all is a knowledge which we don’t want,” said one of the fans on Gambhir’s statement.
Big question : 1st why we had changed our WC winning combination that also after only lossing three matches, if you really believe in some player then stick with him in his bad phase. Rest all is a gyaan which we don’t want.
— Manas Pisolkar (@ManasPisolkar) July 8, 2026
Because the official BCCI press release did not clarify whether Samson was rested or dropped, fans and experts have raised questions. Since Samson currently features only in the T20 format for India, the lack of clarity has triggered massive outrage online and on the ground in England.
