Gautam Gambhir defends dropping Sanju Samson for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after heavy T20I defeat

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has addressed the decision to drop wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from the playing XI during the ongoing T20I series against England, stating that there is no permanent exclusion and that Samson could return later in the series.

The explanation came shortly after India suffered a 125-run defeat in the third T20I at Trent Bridge on Tuesday – their second-lowest total of 76 in response to England's 201. The loss, the first time the world champions have lost by more than 100 runs, has raised questions about the team selection.

Samson, who was a key part of India's T20 World Cup victory four months ago, has struggled for form in recent matches. He scored 5 and 0 in the preceding Ireland series, and managed only 1 run in the rain-affected first T20I against England in Chester-le-Street. For the second match in Manchester, the team management opted to give 19-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his debut at the top of the order, dropping Samson. India lost that match by four wickets while defending 190.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir said there is no “hard and fast rule” that prevents Samson from returning to the side. “It’s about form and what we think gives us the best combination. Sanju is a quality player, and he will get opportunities,” Gambhir said. He emphasised that the decision was based on recent performances and the need to try young talent.

The crushing defeat at Trent Bridge has put pressure on the Indian team, who are now trailing 2-1 in the five-match series. The fourth T20I is scheduled for Friday in London.

Samson’s absence has been a talking point among fans and analysts, especially given his explosive batting in the World Cup. However, Gambhir stressed that the team management is focused on building a balanced squad for future tournaments and that every player will be given a fair chance.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 12 and 8 in his two innings so far, has shown promise but has yet to make a significant impact. The youngster’s inclusion reflects India’s strategy of investing in young talent ahead of the next T20 World Cup.