Is this the last Sanju Samson in T20Is? Gambhir explains the shock selection call

India head coach Gautam Gambhir insisted Sanju Samson remains in contention despite his surprise omission from the playing eleven after England beat India by 125 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The defeat, India’s biggest in T20Is in terms of runs, has intensified the grip on this ship team selection challenges. Chasing 202, India were bowled out for just 76 in 11.4 overs as Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue cracked the batting order. The loss has also been extended Shreyas Iyer winless as T20I captain for five matcheswith India still searching for answers after a disappointing run that included four defeats and one lost match.

One of the biggest talking points was the absence of Samson. The wicketkeeper-batsman was India’s player of the tournament during their successful defense of the T20 World Cup title, producing a string of match-winning performances. Despite these exploits, however, he found himself on the sidelines during India’s difficult transition under Gambhir and Iyer.

ENG vs IND 3rd T20I: Highlights | Message

RETURN STILL POSSIBLE

After the defeat, Gambhir dismissed suggestions that Samson had dropped out of the team’s plans, revealing that he had already spoken to the batsman about his role.

“The first thing is that in terms of the clarity that Sanju Samson needed, that has been provided to him from my side. That is a conversation between the player and the head coach exclusively. That conversation will not come out,” Gambhir said.

The Indian coach reiterated that Samson’s contributions have not been forgotten, but maintained that current form will continue to dictate selection.

“As for Sanju, we are very clear what he has done for India has been phenomenal and sometimes you just look at the form of a certain player. There is no hard and fast rule that he cannot come back in this series.”

Gambhir also defended the team’s selection philosophy, saying that every player must continue to earn their place.

“International cricket is about results, so whatever we feel is the best combination to give us that result, we play that combination and that XI. I’ve always been a big believer that everyone needs to earn their place and the right to play for India.”

CUSTOMIZATION UNDER THE HEADLIGHT

With India struggling during the tour, Gambhir admitted that the side failed to adapt to the conditions, which was reflected in the results against both Ireland and England.

“In terms of adaptability, obviously we haven’t adapted well. That’s the reality, whether it’s Ireland or England. If we’d adapted well or played better cricket, we probably wouldn’t have lost four games in a row.”

The crushing defeat in Bristol only intensified the debate surrounding the Indian team mix. While Gambhir has made it clear that Samson’s international career is far from over, India’s continued struggles mean that every selection call will remain under the microscope until results start to improve.

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Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

08 Jul 2026 02:58 IST