Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has raised questions over the team management’s handling of Sanju Samson ahead of the T20I series against Afghanistan. Karthik questioned the decision to drop the Kerala batter out during the England tour and sought clarity over his role in India’s current setup.
Shreyas Iyer will lead Team India in the three-match series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, starting on Sunday, September 13. The Men in Blue are facing a selection dilemma at the top of the order, with Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi competing for two spots.
Dinesh Karthik Questions Sanju Samson’s Place in T20I Batting Order
Sanju Samson’s return to India’s T20I squad for the Afghanistan series has created another selection puzzle for the team management. The wicketkeeper-batter was dropped midway through the England series before missing the Zimbabwe tour, and his role in the playing XI remains uncertain.
“What is the batting order going to look like? Where does Vaibhav Suryavanshi stand, and what about Sanju Samson? How are you going to fit him in? He was such an important player in the World Cup and was dropped midway through that England series. Where does he stand?” Karthik questioned in a video on his Instagram account.
Samson has scored only 33 runs in his last four T20I appearances against Ireland and England. He has also not played competitive cricket since the England tour after withdrawing from the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2026 due to personal reasons.
Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Add to India’s Opening Dilemma
Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are part of the squad. Samson and Abhishek were part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign, while Sooryavanshi has quickly established himself as an exciting young option.
The management faced a similar situation during the England tour. Samson played the series opener but was left out for the next three matches. Sooryavanshi opened alongside Abhishek. However, Samson returned for the final T20I and partnered Abhishek at the top.
Samson was then left out of the squad for the Zimbabwe series. Abhishek and Sooryavanshi opened in all three matches. Abhishek, meanwhile, has also struggled for runs recently. The left-hander has averaged only 6.66 across his last six T20I innings, putting further pressure on the team management.
Dinesh Karthik Wants India to Find Clear T20I Identity
Dinesh Karthik also stated that the Afghanistan series should be about more than winning three matches. The former wicketkeeper stated that the new leadership group must use the upcoming games to address several tactical questions.
“I want this Indian T20 team to understand what their identity is. New captain, new vice-captain. They haven't got the result in Ireland or in England. They were absolutely outplayed there. What does it take? What is their plan? What is the bowling looking like? Who are the players you are going to trust? A lot of this is not just about winning the series, it's about understanding what they need to take out from this series against Afghanistan,” Karthik remarked.
They will have an opportunity to settle their batting order and bowling combination ahead of the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Former India cricketer Vivek Razdan backed Sanju Samson and wanted India to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
