Sanju Samson: dropped from India squad as Ashok, Yash, Prabhsimran get first call-ups. The wicketkeeper-batter was left out of India’s T20I team for the three-match series against Zimbabwe starting July 23 in Harare. Sanju Samson’s recent poor form, including low scores in matches against England and Ireland, led to his omission despite his strong performance in the previous T20 World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer will captain the 15-member squad, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi retaining his place after his debut against England. Fast bowlers Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur, and Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, have received their first senior India call-ups. Express pacer Mayank Yadav also returns to the national team for the first time since 2024.
Sanju Samson’s exclusion highlights how quickly form can change in cricket. After scoring just one run in seven balls against England at Durham and managing 0 and 5 in two T20Is against Ireland, the selectors decided to drop him. Despite being Player of the Tournament in India’s recent World Cup win, Samson failed to build on that success. Meanwhile, Ashok Sharma, who was recently in the India A squad for a tri-series in Sri Lanka, now gets his chance in the senior T20I side.
In a related change, Shivam Dube replaces the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy in India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against England. The T20I series against Zimbabwe will be played on July 23, 25, and 27. For Sanju Samson, this dropped selection serves as a reminder of the need for consistent performances to stay in India’s competitive squad.