Ajinkya Rahane Critiques India's T20I Squad Exclusion of Sanju Samson

Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his concerns regarding the exclusion of Sanju Samson from India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. This decision has sparked significant backlash, especially considering Samson's pivotal role in India's recent T20 World Cup victory. Rahane's comments highlight the oddity of dropping a player who was instrumental in the team's success. As the Indian team prepares for three matches in Zimbabwe, the cricket community is left questioning the selection choices made by the management. Will Samson return to the squad soon? Read on to find out more.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 7, 2026, 16:15 IST

Concerns Raised Over Squad Selection

Ajinkya Rahane, a seasoned cricketer from India, has voiced his concerns regarding the selection of the national team for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. He specifically questioned the absence of Sanju Samson from the 15-member squad. The Indian team is scheduled to compete in three matches in Zimbabwe from July 23 to 26 at the renowned Harare Sports Club.

Seven players have been omitted from the squad, primarily due to their commitments in England, with Samson being the most notable exclusion. This decision follows a disappointing performance where he was dropped from the lineup for the second T20I against England after scoring poorly in the initial matches of the UK tour, including scores of 5 and 0 against Ireland and just 1 in the first match against England.

While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his debut in place of Samson, the complete exclusion of the wicketkeeper-batter has sparked significant criticism. Prior to this slump, the 31-year-old had been instrumental in India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, earning the Player of the Tournament title with impressive scores of 97* in the virtual quarter-final against West Indies and 89 runs each in the final against England and New Zealand.

Rahane's Reaction to the Decision

Rahane expressed his bewilderment over the decision to exclude Samson, emphasizing that it seems strange for a player who contributed significantly to India's recent T20 World Cup victory to be left out. He conveyed his hope that the communication regarding this decision was handled appropriately. "I hope there has been some communication with @imsanjusamson. It seems odd that the hero of our recent T20 WC win has been omitted from the T20 squad for Zimbabwe. I look forward to seeing him back in the team soon," Rahane shared on Instagram. Despite this setback, Samson remains part of India's squad for the upcoming Asian Games, which will follow the Zimbabwe tour.