Sanju Samson has been omitted from India's squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to be played in Harare from July 23 to 27. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced the squad on Monday, handing maiden call-ups to pacers Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma, as well as Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh.
Samson's Recent Form and Replacement
Samson, who was part of India's World Cup-winning squad, failed to impress in recent outings. He recorded three consecutive low scores—twice against Ireland and once in the first T20I against England at Durham—leading to his exclusion. The Kerala batter was replaced by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the second T20I against England in the ongoing five-match series. Sooryavanshi, who made his debut in that match, has kept his place in the Zimbabwe-bound squad.
New Faces in the Squad
Yash Thakur, a right-arm pacer from Madhya Pradesh, has been rewarded for his consistent performances in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashok Sharma, another fast bowler, also earned his first national call-up. Both are expected to bolster India's pace attack in the absence of senior bowlers. Prabhsimran Singh, a flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter from Punjab, has been included as a backup to Ishan Kishan, who is the primary wicketkeeper in the squad.
Mayank Yadav Returns
Express pacer Mayank Yadav has made a return to the T20 squad for the first time since 2024. The Delhi speedster, known for his raw pace, was sidelined due to injury but has now been cleared to play. His inclusion adds variety to the bowling attack.
ODI Squad Changes
For the three-match ODI series against England, the selection committee replaced the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy with all-rounder Shivam Dube. The ODI squad is led by Shubman Gill, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. The squad includes senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, alongside emerging talents.
Full India T20 Squad for Zimbabwe Series
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper).
India's Updated ODI Squad vs England
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Shivam Dube.
