Here's why Sanju Samson not picked for Zimbabwe T20Is

NEW DELHI: India's selectors have reportedly left star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson out of the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe as they look to test new talent rather than due to concerns over his form or fitness.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a 15-member squad for the tour on Monday but did not provide a reason for Samson's omission, prompting widespread debate among fans and pundits.

According to reports, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, viewed the Zimbabwe series as an opportunity to assess fringe players ahead of a busy international schedule.

With Samson already expected to feature in India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, the selectors opted to hand an opportunity to Prabhsimran Singh, who has impressed with his performances for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League over the past two seasons.

Prabhsimran, who recently represented India A in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, joins Ishan Kishan as one of two wicketkeeper-batters in the squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

Samson's exclusion has attracted significant attention given his outstanding recent performances. The right-hander finished as the third-highest run-scorer at the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup before enjoying another prolific IPL campaign, where he scored two centuries and finished as Chennai Super Kings' leading run-getter.

However, his fortunes dipped during India's tours of Ireland and England, where he managed scores of five, nought and one before being left out of the second T20I in Manchester, making way for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated international debut.

Despite that lean run, it is understood Samson's recent form was not a factor behind his omission from the Zimbabwe squad. It remains unclear whether the selectors informed him of their decision before announcing the squad.

The decision follows another high-profile selection call made after India's successful T20 World Cup defence. Earlier, former captain Suryakumar Yadav was omitted from the squads for the Ireland and England tours despite leading India to the world title.

Shreyas Iyer was recalled after consistent IPL performances with Punjab Kings and was appointed captain, with the selectors stating the move was made with a long-term vision in mind.

India's three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe will be played in Harare on 23, 25 and 26 July, beginning four days after the conclusion of the England tour.

Former India captain VVS Laxman is expected to oversee the Zimbabwe tour and the Asian Games campaign, while the regular coaching staff prepare for India's Test tour of Sri Lanka in August and the white-ball series against the West Indies later in the year.