The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly raised concerns over wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson's recent weight gain. A lack of communication between the national medical team and players during off-duty periods has also led to ongoing fitness issues within the squad.
After winning the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Samson struggled in the bilateral series against Ireland and England. He has been rested for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which begins on Thursday under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.
BCCI Concerned Over Sanju Samson's Weight Gain - Report
According to a Times of India report, the Indian team management has raised concerns over the fitness of several players. The report said young cricketers such as Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy have spent significant time with physiotherapists.
The report also said that gaps in communication between the national medical team and players during off-duty periods have affected overall fitness, including Sanju Samson's reported weight gain.
"Besides Washington, who has always had fitness issues, it is concerning to see Sanju Samson putting on weight so easily. It is a result of the gap in the system. The overall fielding standard has dropped because of these fitness issues," a BCCI source told Times of India.
Rohit Sharma Had to Check BCCI Database Himself to Identify Hamstring Injury
The report also claimed that during the recent IPL season, Rohit Sharma had to check the BCCI's medical database himself to identify his hamstring injury after the Mumbai Indians' medical staff could not determine the issue for nearly a month.
“These days, there are very few all-format players. Most players get decent breaks between international assignments. If they are not undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE, they are left on their own. There is little communication,” the source said.
"The players require a more hands-on empathetic approach from the medical team. At the moment, most seasoned international cricketers are reluctant to seek CoE's intervention. They prefer to train at their own arrangements elsewhere. This needs to be addressed," the source told Times of India.
Sanju Samson's Form Dipped After T20 World Cup Heroics
Sanju Samson enjoyed a dream campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026, where he finished as the Player of the Tournament. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37, including three consecutive match-winning knocks to help India win the title.
However, Samson could not carry that form into the following bilateral series. He managed scores of 0 and 5 against Ireland and then scored just 1 run during the England T20I series before losing his place in the playing XI. However, he returned to the final T20I and scored 27 off 14 balls. But India failed to win the last game as well.
The selectors rested Samson for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, with the team management opting to give opportunities to younger players while managing the workload of a few senior cricketers.
