A senior BCCI official has hit back at critics over Sanju Samson’s exclusion. The wicketkeeper batter was left out of India’s squad for Zimbabwe.
Samson’s omission sparked immediate uproar among fans and cricket experts. He had starred as Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup win.
The official clarified that Samson was rested, not dropped from the team. Selectors reportedly felt he would not play a single match anyway. Carrying a senior player just to sit on the bench made little sense.
“So those who are criticising the selection committee can do a bit of homework,” the official said. He pointed out that Samson already has a spot in September’s Asian Games squad.
“What’s the point of carrying Samson when he won’t play? He is a senior guy,” the source added. The comment aimed to end speculation swirling around the decision.
Samson’s recent form added another layer to the ongoing debate. He hit two centuries during IPL 2026 for Chennai Super Kings. Those knocks made him the tournament’s top run scorer this season.
However, his form dipped noticeably during India’s recent series against England. He managed only modest scores across three innings there. Selectors dropped him from the playing XI for the second T20I. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took his place in that particular match.
BCCI named three openers for the upcoming Zimbabwe assignment instead. Prabhsimran Singh, Abhishek Sharma, and Sooryavanshi all earned squad spots. Samson’s name did not appear anywhere on that fifteen-member list.
Reports suggest selectors also wanted to test Prabhsimran Singh further. His strong IPL performances reportedly caught the selection committee’s attention. The Zimbabwe series offered a low-stakes opportunity to assess younger options.
Samson’s T20I career has shown inconsistent patterns throughout this year. He struggled earlier in a series against New Zealand as well. He scored just 46 runs across five matches during that tour.
Fans will now wait to see how selectors handle his next opportunity. His spot in the Asian Games squad remains secure for September.