Why is Sanju Samson not playing ZIM vs IND 1st T20I in Harare?
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Sanju Samson played one game in the T20I series against England.
Zimbabwe are all set to host India for the three-match contest in Harare, and both teams will begin this tour on July 23, 2026. After suffering back-to-back series defeats against Ireland and England, the Men in Blue will be hoping to make their comeback and gain their winning momentum.
India have added several new faces while a few senior players have been rested or left out. Shreyas Iyer will lead the Indian side once again, with Tilak Varma as his deputy. The young players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Harsh Dubey, Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur are expected to get opportunities during the tour.
However, apart from all this, one name missing from India’s squad is wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson, and this leaves a mark on why he is not playing the opening T20I game between Zimbabwe and India.
Why did Sanju Samson miss 1st ZIM vs IND T20I?
The reason behind Sanju Samson not playing the first T20I against Zimbabwe is that he was not selected in India’s 15-member squad for the tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad earlier this month but did not provide any official reason for Samson’s omission from the squad. However, there were some reports which claimed that Samson was rested as management didn’t want to take two frontline keepers for the tour.
Samson was part of India’s World Cup-winning squad earlier this year and was also named in India’s squad for the Asian Games 2026, which is scheduled to be held in Japan later this year.
Sanju struggled during the England and Ireland tour as he had scores of 5, 0 and 1 before losing his place in the during the England series. Although there has been no official confirmation, Samson’s recent performances could have played a major role in selector’s decision.
The young Indian talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken the spot of Samson in the XI. However, there are still plenty of series and tournaments, including the Asian Games, and Sanju will be hoping to reclaim his place in the team with strong performances in domestic cricket.
Why is Sanju Samson not playing the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe?
Sanju Samson is not playing the first T20I against Zimbabwe because he was not selected in India’s 15-member squad for the tour.
When is the ZIM vs IND 1st T20I?
The first T20I between Zimbabwe and India will be played on July 23, 2026.
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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.