​India batter Ajinkya Rahane expressed disbelief at Sanju Samson’s omission from India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour, saying he was surprised and hoping the selectors had at least informed him about the decision. Taking to Instagram, Rahane posted a story backing Samson, indicating he expected the wicketkeeper-batter to return to the national side soon. “Hope there has been some communication with Samson. I find it odd that the hero of our recent T20 World Cup win has been left out of the T20 squad to Zimbabwe. Hope to see him back in the team soon,” Rahane wrote on his Instagram Story.
Rahane’s comments come in the wake of the board’s announcement detailing India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, a series that marks Samson’s absence from the national team. Samson played a pivotal role in India’s victorious ICC T20 World Cup campaign, making his exclusion notable and widely discussed among fans and pundits alike.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe tour. Among the notable selections were Prabhsimran Singh and Yash Thakur, who earned their maiden India call-ups. The upcoming T20I series is slated to begin on July 23, with all three matches scheduled to be held in Harare. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side as captain, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. The squad also includes Ishan Kishan as the designated wicketkeeper, while other prominent members include Harsh Dubey, Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Prabhsimran Singh, who has retained his wicketkeeper role.
In addition, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had replaced Samson in the second T20I against England, has retained his place in the squad as a continuing development. The inclusion of younger players alongside established performers signals India’s ongoing strategy of balancing experience with emerging talent as they prepare for a busy calendar of limited-overs cricket.
For fans and analysts, Samson’s omission continues to spark debate about squad selection and the management’s plans for the short-format future. Rahane’s public expression of astonishment adds another layer to the conversation, underscoring how emotionally invested players remain in national selection decisions. As India head into the Zimbabwe series under Iyer’s captaincy and Varma’s vice-captaincy, all eyes will be on how the squad gel together in Harare and whether Samson’s absence becomes a talking point beyond the confines of the BCCI announcement.
The Zimbabwe tour promises to offer a platform for the new-call players to showcase their talent on an international stage, while more experienced members carry the responsibility of steering the team through a competitive set of limited-overs fixtures. With the series beginning on July 23, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the team adapts to conditions in Harare and whether the selectors’ choices pay dividends in the ongoing build toward major ICC events and the evolving landscape of India’s white-ball cricket.