Sanju Samson Not Alone! Players India Can Drop From Asian Games 2026 Squad

Sanju Samson (Source: AFP)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could make changes to India’s previously announced squad for the 2026 Asian Games. According to recent reports from the Times of India, the board is likely to approach the organisers to seek permission to make changes to the squad. 

If the rules allow teams to make alterations, we can expect the BCCI to make several changes. The Asian Games will start from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.

India's Asian Games Squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit Bumrah. 

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir To Be Replaced As India Head Coach For Zimbabwe Tour, Asian Games

Here are four players who could lose their place if the selectors decide to make changes.

Players Whom The BCCI Selectors Can Snub From The Asian Games 2026 Squad

Sanju Samson

• Sanju Samson is one of the biggest names who could face the axe if the selectors decide to reshuffle the squad. The wicketkeeper-batter was recently left out of India's squad for the Zimbabwe T20I series, with reports suggesting that he was rested. 
• In his absence, Punjab Kings opener Prabhsimran Singh earned a call-up. If he grabs his opportunity and performs well in Zimbabwe, he could become a strong contender for the Asian Games squad. 
• Samson’s recent performances have also raised questions. He managed just 1 run in the first T20I against England before being dropped for the second match, where youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his India debut. Earlier, in the Ireland series, Samson scored only 5 runs in two innings.

Nitish Kumar Reddy

• All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is another player whose place could be under threat, mainly because of his fitness concerns. He was ruled out of India’s T20I series against Ireland and England after aggravating a left quadriceps injury. The injury was first suffered during the ODI series against Afghanistan.
• He is also unavailable for the ODI series against England as he failed to recover on time, with Shivam Dube replacing him in the squad.
• There is still enough time before the Asian Games begin, and if Nitish regains full fitness, he could retain his place. However, if his recovery is delayed or he is unable to return, the selectors may have no choice but to look at another all-rounder.

Washington Sundar

• Washington Sundar could also miss out if the selectors look for more impactful T20 players. The spin-bowling all-rounder has struggled to make consistent contributions with both bat and ball in recent T20Is. In his first T20I against England, he managed just 9 runs, and he was not picked for the second T20I.
• Overall, Sundar has played 61 T20Is, taking 51 wickets at an economy rate of 7.05. With the bat, he has scored 274 runs at an average of 16.11 and a strike rate of 129.24.
• The team management may prefer an all-rounder who can provide greater batting depth in the middle order.

Ravi Bishnoi

• Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is another player who could be under pressure ahead of the final squad selection. He has been criticised for a lack of variation, which has allowed batters to play him more comfortably. His recent performances have also been disappointing, especially in high-pressure situations.
• During the second T20I against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, Bishnoi conceded 60 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket.
•  His struggles with discipline and consistency have become a concern. There is a chance that BCCI might opt for another option for the Asian Games 2026.

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