Ravichandran Ashwin Critiques Sanju Samson's Exclusion from Zimbabwe Tour

Ravichandran Ashwin's comedic mimicry of Sanju Samson has gone viral as he critiques the decision to exclude the wicketkeeper from India's squad for the Zimbabwe series. Ashwin's humorous take highlights serious concerns about player insecurity and inconsistent treatment within the team. He questions the rationale behind resting players and emphasizes the need for fair opportunities. This article delves into Ashwin's mock dialogue with the chief selector and his candid thoughts on the implications of such decisions for the team dynamics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 10, 2026, 14:48 IST

Ashwin's Comedic Take on Samson's Omission

Ravichandran Ashwin's amusing impersonation of Sanju Samson gained traction online as he expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the decision to exclude the prominent wicketkeeper from India's squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. While the team has selected its primary batting lineup, Samson has been omitted, with Prabhsimran Singh stepping in as the second wicketkeeper alongside Ishan Kishan.

This decision comes after Samson was also left out of the playing XI in the current series against England, where he was replaced by the young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 32-year-old had a challenging start to the UK tour, recording scores of 5, 0, and 1 in his two matches in Ireland and the first game against England. It has been suggested that Samson was rested for the Zimbabwe tour, a notion that Ashwin openly challenged.

In a humorous video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin staged a mock dialogue with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, portraying Samson while the host took on the role of Agarkar. The skit featured Ashwin's character pleading to be included in the squad, humorously stating, "I want to play there. I have never been to Bulawayo. They are a proud cricketing nation. I want to take revenge for that. Please take me there, I don't want to rest."

Ravichandran Ashwin as Sanju Samson, Vimal Kumar as the chief selector... and the conversation went exactly how you'd imagine 😂 pic.twitter.com/2CoQKpWqEO
— Wickets Hitting (@offpacedelivery) July 8, 2026

Ashwin's Concerns Over Team Dynamics

Setting aside the humor, Ashwin criticized the decision to rest Samson, arguing that it could foster insecurity among other players. He recalled his previous warnings regarding the removal of Suryakumar Yadav as captain, questioning, "Who will be next? After two losses in Ireland and a dip in form, they have sidelined Sanju. Now, following two losses in England, who is next? This is concerning. I hope Indian players do not feel insecure. When players start worrying about their positions, it can be detrimental to the team dynamic in T20 cricket."

Ashwin also highlighted perceived inconsistencies in player treatment, referencing comments made by Gambhir about Sai Sudharsan last month, who was given ample opportunities to prove himself. He remarked, "What was said about giving Sai Sudharsan a fair chance? It’s contradictory. Why not extend the same courtesy to Sanju? He deserves at least two more chances. I hope this insecurity does not permeate the team."

He further questioned the rationale behind resting players, stating, "What does it mean to rest? It's not a rule that players must be rested on these tours. Sanju only plays T20Is, not Tests or ODIs. Why rest him now? He can take a break after the Zimbabwe tour. It's unfair, but it is what it is," Ashwin concluded.