India Players Who Can Be Dropped For Sanju Samson's Comeback In 4th T20I Vs England

Sooryavanshi could be out if Samson comes back [Source: AFP]

Sanju Samson has had a roller-coaster ride as an Indian cricketer this year. The swashbuckling batter from Kerala scripted India's historic T20 World Cup 2026 through three breathtaking performances before his fate turned upside down on the UK tour. 

Two consecutive failures in Ireland, followed by a single-digit score in England, led to Sanju Samson's ouster from the Indian playing XI, with the Gautam Gambhir-led team management bringing in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as his replacement. 

India's lacklustre batting reignites Sanju Samson's comeback debate

However, the debated move didn't work wonders for the Men in Blue, as they sustained their lean patch as a batting unit on English soil. 

After a 190-run total proved insufficient for India at Old Trafford, the tourists fell prey to England's disciplined bowling attack, getting bowled out for 76 runs in the subsequent affair in Nottingham. 

India's poor outing highlighted multiple loopholes in their lineup, leaving their vulnerable batting order exposed in challenging conditions. 

In fact, India's miserable performance ignited the Sanju Samson debate, with fans and critics demanding the experienced campaigner's comeback for the must-win fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol. 

Also Read: "Justice For Sanju Samson": Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Flop Show Triggers Massive Protest

As Sanju Samson's comeback talks gather pace, here we decode which three players could make way for the keeper-batter in India's playing XI for the fourth T20I against England. 

3 players whom India can drop to accommodate Sanju Samson in playing XI

1) Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to make way for Sanju Samson in India's playing XI for some obvious reasons. 

Being a wicketkeeper-batter, Samson is Ishan's like-for-like replacement. Additionally, Samson has the calibre to bat at number three, having performed the role for India and Rajasthan Royals. 

Ishan has failed to meet the expectations for India on the UK tour, scoring 75 runs across five T20Is against England and Ireland combined. So, India might sideline Ishan if they wish to bring Samson back into the scheme of things. 

2) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is another high-profile name whom India can bench to draft Sanju Samson back into the team. 

The destructive southpaw made his debut in the second T20I against England following a blockbuster IPL season. However, he hasn't made his chances count so far, managing only 27 runs in two outings. 

Sooryavanshi has fallen prey to England's disciplined bowling attack, proving he's still a work in progress as far as thriving in international cricket is concerned. 

So, if the Indian team management decides to back experience over talent, they might go back to Sanju Samson and make Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warm the bench in the fourth T20I. 

If Samson comes in for Sooryavanshi, he will open the batting with Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan will continue at number three. 

3) Tilak Varma

(Tilak Varma's T20I stats since T20 World Cup 2026)

If India consider bringing Sanju Samson without dropping Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, then Tilak Varma could lose his place in the playing XI. 

The left-handed batter, who propelled the Men in Blue to an emphatic Asia Cup final triumph over Pakistan, has looked lacklustre since the T20 World Cup 2026. 

Tilak Varma has particularly been scrutinised for his sub-par strike rate, scoring abysmally at 111.76 in his last five innings on India's UK tour. 

Although he has shown great temperament in crunch situations for India and Mumbai Indians in the past, Tilak's outdated batting has raised questions over his place in the T20I team. 

So, if the Indian team management thinks of experimenting with the batting order by keeping all three of Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma will likely make way for the Kerala batter in the penultimate T20I against England in Bristol. 

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