India head coach Gautam Gambhir is reportedly unhappy with Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. According to a report by Dainik Jagaran, Gambhir and the selection committee differed over leaving the Keralam wicketkeeper-batter out despite his recent performances.
Samson played a key role in India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, earning the Player of the Tournament award after delivering crucial performances in the knockout stages. He also enjoyed a productive IPL 2026 season, scoring 477 runs. However, a string of low scores against Ireland and in the first T20I against England led to his omission for the next three matches.
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Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replaced Samson but managed scores of only 14, 13 and 15. India eventually recalled Samson for the fifth T20I, with captain Shreyas Iyer explaining that the move was made to restore the left-right opening combination. Gambhir had also clarified that Samson’s earlier exclusion was purely based on form.
Following Samson’s omission from the Zimbabwe squad, a BCCI source reportedly stated that the decision was taken to give younger players more opportunities while Samson remains part of India’s plans for the upcoming Asian Games.
The report also dismissed speculation of a rift between Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. It claimed the two remain in regular contact and continue to work closely. However, the report alleged that both are unhappy with the conduct of two selectors, accusing them of seeking undue credit for the team’s successes while avoiding responsibility after India’s recent poor run, having lost six of their last seven matches.
