Sanju Samson’s spot in India’s T20 squad appears increasingly vulnerable as selectors and team management gravitate towards Rishabh Pant as the preferred wicketkeeper-batter across all formats, sources told Telecom Asia Sport.
Sanju Samson’s spot in India’s T20 squad appears increasingly vulnerable as selectors and team management gravitate towards Rishabh Pant as the preferred wicketkeeper-batter across all formats, sources told Telecom Asia Sport.
Pant’s successful return from injury and his strong run of form have reignited faith among selectors, leaving Samson under growing pressure to deliver consistent performances. Despite flashes of brilliance, Samson’s inability to convert potential into sustained impact has become a recurring concern.
Numbers That Don’t Favour Him
In his last 10 T20I innings, Samson has managed just 218 runs, an underwhelming return for a player long touted as one of India’s most gifted stroke-makers. With the T20 World Cup at home next year, every outing now carries heightened scrutiny.
“Under Gautam Gambhir’s results-driven approach, consistent performances will be the key to survival,” said an insider. “Unless Samson produces impactful knocks in the coming series, he risks slipping further down the pecking order as the Indian team builds toward a more settled and aggressive core for the World Cup.”
Pant’s Resurgence Shifts The Equation
Pant’s return has added to the pressure. His improved fitness, sharper glovework, and match-winning temperament have bolstered his case to reclaim the T20 gloves. With the selectors and Gambhir favouring reliability and adaptability, Samson’s sporadic brilliance may no longer be enough. For now, the message seems clear — consistency, not potential, will determine Samson’s survival as India shape their blueprint for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
