Sanju Samson not in SCHEME of things as BCCI set to make changes to Asian Games 2026 squad; Know here
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Sanju Samson was not picked in the Indian squad for Zimbabwe T20I series.
The Indian Cricket Team are in England playing the ongoing the T20I series with the hosts, where they stand at 1-0 down after two games of the campaign. The T20I series will be followed by an ODI series between the two teams.
On July 6, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for T20I against Zimbabwe, which is scheduled in later part of July. There have been significant changes in the squad.
Notable exclusions were those of Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar. While most of them are multi-format players, Sanju plays only the T20-format.
Sanju Samson was the Player of the Tournament in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for his three infamous knocks, where he scored 97* (50), 89 (42) and 89 (46) in the virtual quarter-final, semi-final and the Final, respectively. His exclusion surprised many with many lashing out at the BCCI and team management for their poor call.
Have we seen the last of Sanju Samson in international cricket?
However, this was not the only bad news for Sanju Samson. As per the reports from Times of India’s (TOI) journalist Sahil Malhotra, Samson’s lack of consistency prior to and post these knocks has been a constant axe hanging over him. The selectors are not happy with his inconsistency, especially with many other top order batsmen in queue.
The reports suggested that he was selected for the T20 World Cup 2026 primarily because of the lack of right handers in the batting line-up. However, he did repay the trust with his performance in the tournament.
With the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the large pool of players awaiting their chances, the selectors are keen to give a long rope to the teenager to cement his position alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Prabhsimran Singh has earned his maiden T20 call-up for India for the Zimbabwe series, and could likely get some games. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma have shunned down all doubts with their consistent runs.
BCCI set to make changes to Asian Games 2026 squad; Sanju Samson likely to be dropped
While the Asian Games squad was announced prior to the UK tour, there are reports suggesting that the squad could be revised, and that Sanju could find himself not being a part of the revised squad. The BCCI is likely to approach the authorities for change in squad.
Sanju last played the 1st ENG vs IND T20I where he scored only one run. He was replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the 2nd T20I. It remains to be seen if he will get opportunities in further games or not.
Will Sanju Samson play T20I series against Zimbabwe?
No, Sanju Samson will not play T20I series against Zimbabwe, as he is not a part of the squad.
Will Sanju Samson play the Asian Games?
Sanju Samson is a part of the squad for the Asian Games, but there are reports suggesting likely changes in the squad after the Zimbabwe tour.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.