Why is Sanju Samson not playing today's IND vs ZIM 2nd T20I?
Team India's Sanju Samson isn't part of the Men in Blue's playing XI for their second T20I of the five-match series against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in Harare on Sunday, July 7. The keeper-batter also didn't feature in the series opener.
Samson was part of India's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad. A delay in return to India from Barbados due to hurricane Berly put his availability for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe in jeopardy. Also, the BCCI conducted a felicitation for the Indian team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, July 4.
It is worth mentioning that Sanju Samson didn't get to play a single match at the 2024 T20 World Cup. He was benched throughout the tournament, with Rishabh Pant being the Indian think tank's preferred choice for the keeper-batter role.
India trumped South Africa by seven runs in the final to clinch the coveted trophy, ending an 11-year ICC title drought. Samson is expected to walk into the Indian playing XI for the last three T20Is of the Zimbabwe series.
Jitesh Sharma was named as Sanju Samson's replacement for the first two IND vs ZIM T20Is
With Sanju Samson unavailable for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe, the Indian selectors added wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma to the squad. Pacer Harshit Rana and batter Sai Sudharsan were the other two late additions to the squad, as all-rounder Shivam Dube and opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal too are set to miss the first two fixtures due to a delayed return from Barbados.
The Shubman Gill-led side suffered an embarrassing 13-run loss to Zimbabwe in the T20I series opener on Saturday, July 6. The visitors were bundled out for just 102 while chasing a 116-run target.
India's batting let them down in the clash, as Shubman Gill (31), Washinton Sundar (27), and Avesh Khan (16) were the only three players to register double-digit scores.
For Zimbabwe, Tendai Chatara and skipper Sikandar Raza took three wickets apiece. Raza, who also scored 17 runs with the bat, was adjudged the Player of the Match.