Sanju Samson is in long term plans for India [Source: AFP]In a significant development, Sanju Samson has been saved from being axed from the Asian Games 2026 squad after reports suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India was planning to undergo some massive changes for the tournament. Samson, who has been underperforming for quite some time since the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, has been under heavy scrutiny because of his unreliable and inconsistent form. This gave rise to speculation that he might be dropped from the Asian Games squad, especially after the India vs Zimbabwe tour snub. However, recent developments have brought relief for the wicketkeeper-batter.Why Sanju Samson Had The Danger Of Getting Snubbed From Asian Games 2026?The Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for the India vs Zimbabwe tour blatantly dropped Samson, labelling it as workload management. With Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube getting a recall to the squad, Samson's snub seemed a little fishy. Rinku, who is not a regular part of India's T20 setup, returned, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise after replacing Sanju Samson in the England tour Playing XI further raised speculation that the CSK star is slowly fading away from the Indian T20 setup. However, refuting all these claims, an insider has suggested that Samson is still a very crucial part of India's batting plans.Sanju Samson In Long-Term Plans Of IndiaAs per a recent report from Cricbuzz on July 7, Samson is still very much part of the selectors' long-term strategy. He remains in India's squad for the Asian Games, with no plans of removing him from the event. As per the report, the selectors are looking to test a wider pool of players with the 2028 T20 World Cup in mind. Hence, a potential addition may be in the BCCI's plans rather than axing the Player of the Tournament from the 2026 T20 World Cup. Also Read- India Players Who Were Once 'Rested' But Never ReturnedWho Could Be The Potential Additions In Asian Games 2026?Potential additions to the T20 squad could be ravishing Gurnoor Brar, who impressed with his pace bowling skills in the India A vs Sri Lanka 2026 series. He picked up 10 wickets from a single Test match, impressing the selectors. In the Afghanistan vs India ODI series, he managed to take seven wickets in three matches while bowling at an impressive economy rate of 5.96. Prabhsimran Singh, who was named in the Zimbabwe tour, might also be another important wicketkeeper-batter that the India management could eye as a backup option for Ishan Kishan. His inclusion in the squad might as well eat away at Sanju Samson's place as an opener, although it doesn't mean that Samson will be completely ousted from the squad. Promising bowlers like Auqib Nabi, Suryansh Shedge, Prince Yadav or Harsh Dubey might also be given a chance.With no confirmation on whether there will be a potential addition or subtraction from the Asian Games 2026 squad, much room for speculation still remains. Defending Champions Ready To Take On Prestigious TournamentThe Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya, Japan, and the team will aim for the gold medal. The tournament will feature both men's and women's events. In the men's tournament, a total of 10 teams will participate, including defending champions India alongside the teams that advanced through the T20 qualifiers held in Singapore in June 2026.Also Read- Revealed- When Will Sanju Samson Feature Next In Indian T20 Team?
