Suryakumar Yadav Reveals Toughest Call to Drop Sanju Samson
· Sports · Indian Express, Times of India
Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has described the decision to drop Sanju Samson from the playing XI at the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup as the most difficult of his tenure. Despite Samson's initial exclusion, he later became the team's key performer and finished as the Player of the Tournament during India's title-winning run. Suryakumar noted that the conversation occurred on a team bus, where Samson expressed his readiness to support the team regardless of his selection status. The skipper had previously assured Samson of his backing during the Duleep Trophy, following a period of poor form in Sri Lanka. Samson eventually returned to the opening slot for a crucial Super Eight match against the West Indies, marking the start of a prolific run that included high scores in the semi-final and final.
Why it matters
The revelation provides insight into the leadership dynamics and team selection processes that led to India's 2026 T20 World Cup victory.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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