Sanju Samson Told To Take Virat Kohli's Route After T20I Snub vs Zimbabwe

Sanju Samson and Virat Kohli - (Source: AFP)

India star Sanju Samson is going through a rough patch in life. If someone had said that Sanju would be out of the Indian team months after winning the Player of the Tournament, anyone would have laughed it off. But it is the reality.

Sanju Samson, who shone for the Men in Blue during the 2026 T20 World Cup, registered a poor UK tour, following which he was replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the team.

Sanju Samson dropped from Zimbabwe series

In the ongoing UK tour, Samson has amassed just 6 runs in three matches. His inconsistency not only resulted in Sooryavanshi’s debut, but also paved Sanju’s way out of the Indian team. 

A few days ago, the BCCI released the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series, and the notable absentee was Samson. The decision left everyone in shock, and the internet went into a frenzy.

A section of fans agreed with the omission due to inconsistency, while others demanded justice for the CSK opener.

Sanjay Manjrekar Tells Sanju Samson To Follow Virat Kohli

In the latest events, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has told Sanju Samson to follow Virat Kohli’s footsteps. Manjrekar stated that the CSK opener's fitness is one of the key reasons behind his exclusion.

Also Read: 1428 Runs, 7 Centuries: Analysing What Makes Rohit Sharma A Different Beast In ODIs In England

Hence, he should follow Virat and take him as an inspiration to get fit and return to the Indian team. 

Only reason that is valid for Samson dropping is his fitness. If that’s the reason, it’s a fair call. Samson is not helping his cause by not being in peak physical condition. At this stage of his career, Samson must keep Virat as his role model.

Sanju Samson Sweating Hard in Gym

Right after being benched for the 2nd and 3rd T20I, Sanju immediately realised that he needs to work on his fitness. Notably, the CSK opener has been posting regular photos from the gym practising and training hard.

Recently, Sanju Samson also skipped a training session and was working in the gym to get back in shape. Notably, the right-handed batter has often been criticised for his fitness, and it is no or never situation for the 31-year-old.

Gautam Gambhir Clears The Air On Sanju Samson’s Exclusion

After the 3rd T20I, Gautam Gambhir also cleared the air on Sanju Samson. After India’s 125-run defeat, Gautam Gambhir addressed the press, where he made a massive remark on Samson. The 44-year-old confirmed that Samson has been dropped but has a chance to make a comeback in the remaining series.

“We are absolutely clear that Sanju, whatever he has done during the World Cup 2026, it has been phenomenal. Sometimes, you just have to look at the form of certain players. There is no such hard and fast rule that Samson cannot return to the team. Everyone has to earn their place, ” remarked Gautam Gambhir during the press conference.

Its is to be seen whether the right-handed batter will return to the playing XI for the 4th T20I or not.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi To Be Benched? India's Predicted Playing XI For 4th T20I Vs England 2026