3 reasons why Sanju Samson being dropped for ZIM vs IND 2026 T20I series is the wrong move

× Experienced keeper-batter Sanju Samson has not been picked in India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe to be played later this month. The Men in Blue will take on Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on July 23, July 25 and July 26. Apart from Samson, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna have also not been picked.

Ad Samson was dropped from Team India's playing XI for the second T20I against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday, July 4. He was replaced by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who created history by becoming the youngest player to debut for India in men's international cricket. Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 14 off 10 as India went down to England by four wickets.

In the wake of Samson being left out of the Men in Blue squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, we look at three reasons why it is the wrong move. Ad Trending #1 He's had only three failures since his T20 World Cup 2026 heroics Not long ago, Samson was the toast of the nation after his brilliant performance during the business end of the 2026 T20 World Cup. After not being a part of the playing XI in most of the matches in the first half of the ICC event, he roared back in emphatic fashion and ended up becoming the Player of the Tournament.

Ad Samson's unbeaten 97 off 50 balls in the must-win Super 8 clash against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata was a knock of the highest quality. On a surface where all the other Indian batter's struggled, Samson stood tall and guided the side to victory. The right-handed batter hardly seemed to take any risk during his stay at the crease and yet ended up with a strike rate of 194.

Samson followed it up with two other gems - 89 off 42 against England in Mumbai in the semifinal and 89 off 46 against New Zealand in the final in Ahmedabad. The right-hander has batted only thrice in T20Is since the conclusion of the World Cup. He scored five off four against Ireland in Belfast and followed it up with a golden duck.

In the first T20I against England, he made one off seven balls. Ad Although Samson has registered three consecutive failures in T20Is, it is way too harsh to drop him on the basis of the same. He had earned the right to get a few more opportunities.

It is significant to note here that he had only faced 12 balls across his last T20I three innings - too few to conclude if he is in form or not. #2 Sanju Samson still has age on his side The argument that Team India might be looking at the future also does not make sense in Samson's case. Although the Kerala stumper made his T20I debut back in 2015, he is still only 31 years old.

If he stays fit and regains his form, the right-handed batter definitely has the ability to represent the country for at least another couple of T20 World Cups. Ad If Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can be in contention for a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup despite approaching the age of 40, Samson can definitely be considered for T20Is for the next few years. The Indian selectors must give a fair opportunity to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star before making a final decision of whether or not to move on from him in the T20I format.

#3 Sends across the wrong message to other players in the team Samson's axing from the T20I squad after just three failures sends across the wrong message to the other players in the team. Here is a batter without whom India would not have been world champions in the T20I format. Yet, after just three low scores, he has been shown the door.

Such decisions can lead to a sense of insecurity in the Indian camp. Players would start worrying for their place in the team after just a few failures. Such a mindset is not the right one for sportspersons involved in a team sport.

The Indian selectors and team management clearly need to rethink their style of operating. × Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda.

Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Renin Wilben Albert Experienced keeper-batter Sanju Samson has not been picked in India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe to be played later this month. The Men in Blue will take on Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on July 23, July 25 and July 26. Apart from Samson, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna have also not been picked.

Ad Samson was dropped from Team India's playing XI for the second T20I against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday, July 4. He was replaced by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who created history by becoming the youngest player to debut for India in men's international cricket. Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 14 off 10 as India went down to England by four wickets.

In the wake of Samson being left out of the Men in Blue squad for the three-ma