Former India coach Ravi Shastri feels that Sanju Samson is a serious contender to become the next T20I captain for the national team after his impressive performances this year. Samson was the player of the tournament as India retained their crown at home. In the last three matches, Samson hit the winning knocks and ended the competition with 321 runs from just five matches.
There has been speculation surrounding Suryakumar Yadav’s position in the team as he has struggled for form with the bat of late. Shreyas Iyer was a name rumored to be in the game but Shastri gave his nod to the wicketkeeper-batsman.
Speaking to ICC, the former India coach said that Samson is a certainty in the T20I squad for the next few years. Shastri also pointed out that Samson had experience of managing Rajasthan Royals in the past.
“India, next World Cup (T20) (in 2028), may be looking for a new captain, depending on how Surya does in the next few years,” Shastri told The ICC Review’s Sanjana Ganesan.
“But Sanju Samson has stepped up to a leadership role there because he has done that for Rajasthan (Royals) in the past.
“And he’s a certainty, at the top of the order, extremely destructive. So I see him, this is just the beginning of something else you’re going to see from Sanju over the next two or three years.”
‘NO MORE ABILITY QUESTIONS’
Samson has carried his form into the IPLwhere he scored 430 runs in 11 matches for ČSK, including two hundreds. Shastri said Samson has answered his critics and there are lingering questions about his ability.
“I think he (Samson) has covered all the question marks. The ability was always there. People would actually be disappointed because he wouldn’t live up to that ability,” Shastri remarked.
“But my word this season, the way he played after his performance in the T20 World Cup where he almost won matches in India by himself, big matches, quarter-finals (West Indies, Super 8), semi-finals, finals and the way he stepped up and the maturity he’s showing now in the IPL makes him a clear case for the future.”
Samson will be next in action for CSK as they face LSG on May 15.
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Published on:
May 15, 2026 11:40 AM IST
