The injustice with Sanju Samson is becoming painfully predictable. Every time he starts to find rhythm, one off game is enough for him to be shown the door. The pattern repeated itself once again in the India vs Australia T20I series, a move that left fans frustrated and questioning the team’s selection logic.
It’s not long ago that Samson was opening for India alongside Abhishek Sharma, forming an exciting, attacking pair at the top. Runs flowed freely from both ends, and Samson’s consistency stood out. He even notched up three centuries in just five innings - remarkable numbers in the format, and that too in games where Abhishek fell early. When others stumbled, Samson held the innings together.
His contributions weren’t limited to bilateral cricket either. In the Asia Cup, Samson played crucial knocks, including one in the final against Pakistan, showcasing his composure in pressure moments. Yet now, after a single low score in Australia, he found himself dropped for the 3rd T20I. The decision becomes even harder to justify when you put it side by side with Shubman Gill’s recent numbers.
Gill backed despite poor show
Gill, undoubtedly one of India’s most talented young batters, has managed just 184 runs in his last 10 T20I innings, without a single fifty. Yet his place in the side remains untouched. He was even recalled to the T20 setup during the Asia Cup after more than a year away from the format, despite no recent form to justify it. Since then, his struggles have continued, but his spot has not come under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Samson, who was India’s regular opener before Gill’s return, continues to be sidelined quietly. The optics are hard to ignore. It almost feels like the management is reluctant to drop its “poster boy,” no matter the numbers on paper.
Make no mistake, Gill’s talent is unquestionable. He’s one of India’s brightest batting prospects. But talent alone can’t be a shield against accountability. If performance truly dictates selection, then Samson’s treatment borders on unfair. And at this point, the issue isn’t about one player’s form, it’s about a selection policy that seems to favor perception over performance.
