The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has decided to rest Sanju Samson for India's upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, despite the wicketkeeper-batter being named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup. According to ESPNcricinfo, the tour is being used as an opportunity to test fringe players, leading to Samson's omission.
Prabhsimran Singh Gets Maiden Call-Up
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad on July 6, with Ashok Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, and Yash Thakur earning their maiden India call-ups. Prabhsimran Singh, who has impressed with his T20 performances for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the last two IPL seasons, has been named as the second wicketkeeper-batter alongside Ishan Kishan. Singh recently featured in three matches for India A during the tri-series in Sri Lanka in June.
Samson's Recent Form and Future Plans
Samson had a brilliant run in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he was the third-highest run-scorer, making two centuries. He was also the leading run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. However, he endured a lean run during India's tours of Ireland and England, managing scores of 5, 0, and 1. He was subsequently dropped for the second T20I against England in Manchester last week, making way for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who made his international debut. Samson remains part of the Indian squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan this September.
Zimbabwe Series Schedule
The Zimbabwe T20I series will begin four days after India's tour of England, with matches scheduled on July 23, 25, and 26 in Harare. The selectors aim to give opportunities to emerging players while managing the workload of key stars like Samson ahead of the Asian Games.
