Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin questioned the selectors for resting Sanju Samson for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has picked a plethora of new players but Samson found no place in the team. Samson was also dropped from the second T20I against England as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his much-awaited debut.
The Kerala batter had returned with scores of 5, 0 and 1 in the last three T20I innings and thus the pressure was building on him. However, Samson was the star of the show in the 2026 T20 World Cup, scoring 321 runs in five matches at a strike rate of almost 200 and was awarded Player of the tournament.
Furthermore, Samson had a decent run in IPL 2026, scoring 477 runs for Chennai Super Kings in 14 matches.
Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “He (Sanju Samson) will surely come back into the team. But there is this thing between the two ears that we call the brain. Dimag na khichdi ban jayega (His mind will become a mess).”
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi has come in dangerous form, and we know the kind of support he has. Abhishek Sharma has also done well. Now another opener has come, and if he does well too, what will be on my mind? In the next match, I will ask the umpire for the leg stump guard and say, ‘Can I please score 50 runs?’”
Samson also didn’t get a place in the team’s playing XI for the fourth T20I against England.
Ashwin added, “That will be one hell of a decision to bring him back after one game. Sanju, you are resting for the Zimbabwe tour, so you get completely tired here and play both the games. You are anyway getting rest in Zimbabwe, so these games will be useful for you to get tired.”
The former CSK player admitted he has been left disappointed with team management’s tactics.
“Yes, definitely, if the square leg umpire agrees, one of them can stand with him there. 12 players are not allowed. I am confused and sarcastic, but I am disappointed. That is why it’s coming out like this.”
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed that he has given clarity to Sanju Samson after he was left out of the squad.
