Sanju Samson Excluded from Indian Squad for Zimbabwe Series

Sanju Samson has been dropped from the Indian cricket team for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, sparking debate among fans and analysts. Shreyas Iyer will captain the squad, which sees the inclusion of Prabhsimran Singh and Rinku Singh. The bowling lineup has also seen significant changes, with several new faces joining the team. This article delves into the reasons behind Samson's exclusion and the overall composition of the squad for the series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 6, 2026, 19:35 IST

Samson's Omission Sparks Controversy

Sanju Samson has been left out of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming three-match series against Zimbabwe, following his absence from the playing XI during the current England tour. Shreyas Iyer will take charge as captain for this series scheduled for later this month. The decision to drop Samson is likely to ignite discussions, especially considering he had only three disappointing performances after being named Player of the Tournament in India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2026. In that tournament, he scored 97*, 89, and 89 in crucial matches against the West Indies, England, and New Zealand.

Prabhsimran Singh has been called up to replace Samson as the backup wicketkeeper. The Punjab Kings player returns to the national setup after a three-year hiatus, having previously contributed to India's gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games, although he is yet to make his international debut. Rinku Singh also makes a comeback to the squad after being omitted for the tours of Ireland and England, despite being part of the T20 World Cup-winning team.

India has maintained its batting lineup, with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to feature prominently in the playing XI in Samson's absence. However, the bowling lineup has undergone significant changes, with Ashok Sharma, Yash Thakur, and Harsh Dubey receiving their first T20I call-ups, while Mayank Yadav returns after a two-year injury layoff. Notably, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh appear to be rested for this series.

Indian Squad For Zimbabwe Series: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).