Gambhir Reveals Toughest Sanju Samson Decision
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has described leaving Sanju Samson out of the playing XI during the England T20I series as the toughest selection decision of his coaching tenure. Samson has since responded strongly against Afghanistan, scoring 117 runs across three matches at a strike rate of 180.
Gambhir Explains Sanju Samson Selection Call
Gambhir said Samson’s ability had never been in question, pointing to his Player of the Tournament performance during India’s 2026 T20 World Cup triumph.
Samson scored 321 runs during the tournament as India successfully defended the title.
However, Gambhir said the team management also had to consider current form. Samson endured a difficult period during India’s subsequent tours of Ireland and England, eventually leading to his omission despite his strong World Cup performances.
The coach said leaving Samson out in England was probably the most difficult decision he had made since taking charge of India.
India Returned to World Cup Winning Combination
Gambhir said the management remained convinced that players who had delivered consistently should not be discarded after only a handful of poor performances.
That approach contributed to Samson returning against Afghanistan as India sought to restore elements of the combination that had delivered the T20 World Cup title earlier in the year.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Asked to Wait
Samson’s return meant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had to make way despite his emergence as one of Indian cricket’s most promising young players.
Gambhir said Sooryavanshi had been clearly informed that he would need to wait for another opportunity, stressing that established players with sustained performances remained ahead in the selection order.
The coach also reiterated his emphasis on impact rather than individual milestones, saying India’s T20 approach remains centred on aggressive cricket and maximising influence with bat and ball.
