Sanju Samson has returned to the Indian squad after being dropped following three consecutive low scores during the recent tour of England. The wicketkeeper-batter was named Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup 2026 after scoring 321 runs across five innings, including match-winning knocks of 97 not out against West Indies, 89 against England in the semi-final and 89 in the final against New Zealand. His recent struggles on the UK tour saw him manage only 5, 0 and 1 across three innings, leading to his omission from the Zimbabwe T20I squad.
Ajinkya Rahane has publicly backed Samson’s return to the team, emphasising the importance of supporting the World Cup star through a difficult period. The former India captain opined that Sooryavanshi will get his chances in the future.
“I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance,” Rahane said in a video on his Hindi YouTube channel.
“Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us. Vaibhav will get his opportunities, and his time will come. But for now, I feel the top three should be Samson, Abhishek, and Ishan, who were our contributors in the World Cup,” he added.
Samson’s World Cup form and recent struggles
Rahane highlighted Samson’s World Cup performance and the circumstances surrounding his recent form dip. The former India batter noted that Samson was dropped after just two or three poor innings, a decision he believed warranted reconsideration given the batter’s proven track record at the highest level. Samson’s return to the squad for the Afghanistan series demonstrated the selectors’ willingness to back the World Cup star.
“I am happy to see Sanju Samson back in the team. He was the ‘Man of the Series’ in the World Cup. It has been up and down, and things were happening to him that were not in his control. But he is a match-winner, and his return strengthens the team,” Rahane said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the young batter who replaced Samson in the second T20I against England, has impressed with his recent performances. The 15-year-old won the Orange Cap and MVP award in IPL 2026 after scoring 776 runs with 72 sixes. Rahane acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s potential while advising him to maintain his attacking approach and mental balance as he navigates the early stages of his international career.
“I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket. As of now, there is no need for him to think a lot, and he should be set free,” Rahane said.
“His game will eventually change after two or three years, as much as he keeps playing. It will be important for him to maintain balance. Apart from cricket skills, it is important to stay balanced off the field. That will be a challenge for him,” he added.
Also Read: Reece Topley picks all-time T20 XI, leaves out Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni [Exclusive]
Rahane pointed to Sooryavanshi’s consistent performances across multiple formats as evidence of his readiness for international cricket. The batter demonstrated his ability to score runs at the domestic level and in India A cricket, establishing himself as a prospect for the future. Rahane cautioned that while Sooryavanshi possessed the technical skills required at the highest level, maintaining mental stability would be crucial for his long-term development.
“If we talk about cricket skills, we saw how well he batted in the IPL and scored consistently. He scored for India A and also made runs for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. He has shown consistency. The only thing for him will be to stay mentally balanced and stable so that he can continue operating the way he does. Yes, he will have to make some tweaks in his game, but there is time for that,” Rahane said.
