Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has spoken out on the surprise omission of the opener Sanju Samson from India's squad for a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month, saying that the charismatic batter has been apprised of the decision and provided the clarity he needs. Samson, who had fired imperious performances at the T20I World Cup 2026 to power India to the title win, has encountered an unexpected slump in his form in India's ongoing tour of UK. 

In India's first assignment of the UK tour, where they faced Ireland in a two-match T20I series, Samson recorded scores of 5 and 0. And his struggle continued in the ongoing T20I series against England, where he scored only 1 run in the first game. Following a string of low scores, he got back to the bench, being left out of the playing XI in the second T20I, with young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi coming into his place. 

"First of all, the clarity that should have been given to Sanju Samson – he has got the clarity from my side. And that conversation is only between a head coach and a player. And obviously we will not make that conversation public," Gambhir said at the press conference after India's defeat against England in the third T20I.

"As far as clarity is concerned, we are absolutely clear that Sanju, what he has done for India during the World Cup, has been phenomenal, and sometimes you just have to look at the form as well of a certain player. And it is not like that there is no hard and fast rule that he cannot make a comeback in this series," Gambhir said.

"And more importantly, ultimately international cricket is about results. Whatever we feel is the best combination to give us the results, we play that combination; we play that playing XI. That is what I've always been a big believer, that everyone needs to earn their place. Everyone needs to earn the right to play for India," Gambhir added.

At the T20I World Cup 2026, Samson was amazingly instrumental in helping India clinch the title, playing the finest knocks of 97*, 89 and 89 in the final matches. In the World Cup as well, he had waited patiently before seizing his opportunity to consolidate his place.