ENG vs IND: Did India make a mistake by dropping Sanju Samson after just three games?
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Sanju Samson got dropped in the second ENG vs IND T20I.
India came into the five-match T20I series against England, looking to bounce back after a disappointing tour of Ireland. While the first T20I in Durham was washed out due to rain, all eyes were on the second T20I between at Old Trafford, where the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his international debut.
Sooryavanshi showed his fearless intent and scored 14 runs off 10 balls, including two sixes, but he couldn’t convert this fiery start into a big score. However, Sooryavanshi’s debut also meant the end of Sanju Samson’s position in the XI.
After scoring 5, 0 and 1 in his previous three T20I innings, he was dropped despite being the Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup 2026. Sanju Samson had struggled throughout the Ireland series and failed again in the first T20I against England. He looked uncomfortable against the moving ball and couldn’t give India a good start.
Did India make a mistake by dropping Sanju Samson?
Just a few months ago, Samson was one of the key performers in India‘s successful T20 World Cup campaign. He played crucial knocks in the knockout stages and finished as Player of the Tournament. Those performances were one of the biggest reasons behind India lifting back-to-back title.
Interestingly, India’s coaching staff had also hinted that they wanted to back experienced players. Bowling coach Morne Morkel had recently spoken about showing faith in players, who had performed in big tournaments rather than making immediate changes after a few failures.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar even suggested that India could have accommodated both Samson and Sooryavanshi by moving to No.3 instead of dropping him completely. At the same time, India’s selectors also had a difficult decision to make.
Vaibhav is considered one of the biggest young talents, and after having a phenomenal IPL 2026 campaign, keeping him on the bench for long could have delayed his development.
In the end, this is not about Samson falling. It is also about a young special talent whose performances have made decisions much tougher. If Vaibhav grabs his opportunity and continues his brilliant performances, the decision will look justified. But if India’s batting continues to struggle, then Samson might get his position back.
Why was Sanju Samson dropped from India’s playing XI?
Sanju Samson was left out after scores of 5, 0 and 1 in his last three T20I innings while India handed debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his first international cap.
When is the third T20I between India and England?
The third T20I will be played on July 07, 2026, at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham.
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Amit Patel is a passionate sports enthusiast and a devoted Virat Kohli admirer who proudly supports Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Having been involved in sports from a young age, he has played chess at the district level and represented his college in various competitions. Amit closely follows Indian cricket, with a special interest in tracking young talents and rising stars making their mark at the highest level. Alongside his love for the game, he is an experienced sports content writer who enjoys crafting stories that connect with fans.