Gatham Gambhir Explains Reasons for Sanju Samson's Exclusion from Indian Squad

After four consecutive losses in T20 matches, the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, admitted that the team's problem is not only poor form or young players. Following a humiliating defeat against England in the third T20 with a score of 125 runs, Gambhir voiced for the first time what the main weakness of the Indian team is.

The problem lies in game understanding

According to Gambhir, the most significant shortcoming of the team is the lack of 'game awareness'—the ability to correctly analyze the game and playing conditions. He noted that the Indian team failed to adapt to changing circumstances, from the visit to Ireland to the matches against England, and this was the main reason for the string of defeats.

Characteristics of the current squad

Gambhir emphasized that the current Indian squad cannot be compared to the team that won the T20 World Cup. He recalled that the captain has changed, the opening pair is new, and experienced players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are not in the squad.

The coach stated: 'When you are doing a team reset, you need to give things time. Suryavanshi has been in the opening pair for 15 years, Prince Yadav played his second T20, and Harshit Rana returned from injury. You cannot understand the whole picture by looking only at the results.'

Reasons for failures: mindset and decisions

Gambhir explained the reasons for the defeats not so much through technical aspects as through mentality and decisions made. According to him, the team constantly lagged in understanding the match conditions. The coach believes that both batsmen and bowlers must understand how the pitch behaves, which direction the wind is blowing, which part of the field is larger, and when it is advisable to take risks. In T20 cricket, it is these small details that lead to big differences.

He added: 'We could not adapt to the conditions even in Ireland. If we had understood the situation better, we would not have lost four matches in a row.'

Assessment of player performance

Despite India being bowled out for only 76 runs in the third T20, which was the biggest loss in terms of runs scored in international T20, Gambhir refused to consider this a constant weakness. He mentioned that in the two previous matches, Indian batsmen scored around 190 runs. Since the team plays aggressively and with high risk, very bad days sometimes happen.

Gambhir is convinced that for the preparation of the future team, young players must be given opportunities to play against strong world teams. He believes that only playing against such teams as England will allow players to develop, and for this, some defeats must be accepted.

Prospects for young talents

Despite the complete failure in batting, fast bowler Prince Yadav impressed in his second T20 match, taking 2 wickets and fulfilling tasks both at the beginning and end of overs. Gambhir noted that it is important to look not only at statistics but also at the difficult moments Prince played in. In his opinion, the future of this young fast bowler has great prospects.

The Indian team squad for the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, scheduled for this month, was announced on July 6 (Monday). The selection committee formed a 15-member squad, which will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma remaining as vice-captain.

Focus on youth and experienced players

The selection committee has placed emphasis on both experienced athletes and young talents. Three international T20 matches between India and Zimbabwe are planned for July 23, 25, and 26 in Harare.

Absence of Sandeep Samson and emergence of Probsimaran

Sandeep Samson did not make the squad for the trip to Zimbabwe, which became one of the main topics of discussion. It is presumed that the selection committee decided to give him a rest, considering the constant workload and intensity of training. Although Sandeep Samson plays only in one format, his exclusion was perceived as a very unexpected decision.

Probsimaran Singh has been included in place of Sandeep Samson as a batter-bowler. Previously, Probsimaran participated in the Indian squad at the 2023 Asian Games, but he was not given the opportunity to play in any match then. If he manages to secure a spot in the starting five during the visit to Zimbabwe, he will aim to make his mark in international cricket. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has been included as a primary batter-bowler.

Return of Rinku Singh and Mayank Yadav

The return of explosive batter Rinku Singh to the Indian T20 squad is complete. Previously, Rinku could not be selected for the Indian tours in Ireland and England, nor for the 2026 Asian Games. Now, the selection committee has entrusted him with its hopes once again. Rinku is considered one of the best finishers in Indian T20 cricket.

He possesses the ability to score quickly in the final overs. His return is expected to strengthen the middle and lower order of the Indian team. The visit to Zimbabwe is also important for Rinku, as competition for a spot in the Indian T20 team is constantly increasing, and he needs to maximize the opportunities he gets.

Furthermore, Mayank Yadav has returned to the squad, attracting attention with his powerful pace. Mayank last played for India internationally in October 2024. After that, he was absent from the team for a long time due to fitness issues and injuries. Now, the selection committee has relied on Mayank again for the visit to Zimbabwe. Everyone is closely monitoring his physical condition; if he can perform well throughout the series, he could become an important part of the fast bowling attack in the future.

Support for young talents

15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has also remained in the Indian squad for the visit to Zimbabwe. Vaibhav debuted internationally in a T20I match against England held in Manchester. Debuting at such a young age, Vaibhav made history by scoring only 14 runs in his first match but demonstrated fearless play by hitting two sixes.

In addition to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, other young players such as Suryaansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, and Prince Yadav have also been included in the team. This indicates that the selection committee views the visit to Zimbabwe as an opportunity to groom future players. This tour will be crucial for these young athletes, and a brilliant performance against Zimbabwe could include them in the development plans of the Indian T20 team.

A major debate is currently underway in Indian cricket, one that concerns not match results but the philosophy itself. The question arises whether past achievements have become more important than new talents within the Indian team.

Debut and Controversial Argument

Before the first T20 match against England, when asked about the debut of 15-year-old Vivaan Suryavanshi, captain Shreyas Iyer declined to give a direct answer, stating that the team composition was confidential information. However, Iyer's subsequent argument sparked a wide discussion. He asserted that it is crucial to support players who won the T20 World Cup just a few months ago.

Testing the Theory with Ireland

The main test of Iyer's thesis came during the recent tour of Ireland. In this series, India relied on players who were part of the T20 World Cup winning squad, possessing experience and recognition. Despite this, India lost both T20 matches. Even before the series began, the team management announced that Vivaan would not debut, citing the principle of supporting world champions, but the results of the two-match series showed otherwise.

Thus, the 'world champion' title alone does not guarantee victory. If performance is the main criterion in cricket, then team selection should be based on current form and team needs, not solely on past successes.

Potential of Young Players

Being selected for the Indian squad at the age of 15 is not accidental. Vivaan Suryavanshi earned his spot in the national team through outstanding performances in junior, club, and franchise cricket. But if, after selection, he has to wait for opportunities to arise while World Cup winners are playing, a natural question arises about the purpose of his initial selection.

Was he invited merely to gain dressing room experience, or was he viewed as the future of Indian cricket?

The Strength of Indian Cricket

Indian cricket has never relied solely on achievements. Each generation here has carved out its place by challenging the previous one. If the idea that older players play only because they brought the World Cup to the country dominated, many great young talents might never have emerged in Indian cricket.

The true strength of Indian cricket has always been its uncompromising meritocratic approach. Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all took their places. No one was kept around only for past trophies; each generation paved the way for the next.

Distinction Between Respect and Selection

It is necessary to distinguish between respect and inclusion in the starting lineup. Players who won the World Cup deserve respect for their contribution, there is no doubt about that. However, respect and the right to play in the starting XI are two different concepts. Team selection must be determined by which player can bring the most benefit to the team at the moment. If past achievement becomes the main measure, the path for new talents will become harder.