Why is Sanju Samson Not Playing Today in IND vs SA 1st T20I?

The five-match T20I series between India and South Africa began today at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, and as expected, the primary focus before the toss was on India’s team combination. South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first. SA skipper, Aiden Markram, said that the surface in India appeared promising and hinted that the bowlers could have a difficult time once the dew settles in during the latter stages.

Meanwhile, India captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned that they were not entirely certain about how the pitch would behave, especially since it looked quite green the previous day. He also emphasised that every match leading up to the World Cup is an opportunity to assess players and enjoy competitive cricket.

The management once again opted for a lineup packed with all-rounders, which meant Sanju Samson was left out of the starting XI. India backed Jitesh Sharma as the designated wicketkeeper, while the return of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill were the other major changes in the selection.

Why is Sanju Samson Not Playing Today in IND vs SA 1st T20I?

Gill’s comeback strengthened India at the top, effectively pushing Samson out of his preferred opening slot. Samson hasn’t received many opportunities in the middle-order in recent months, and after being benched during the Australia series, he continues to remain sidelined despite being part of the squad.

Hardik’s inclusion also influenced the balance of the XI, with the all-rounder taking the No. 6 position, while Shivam Dube is expected to slot in at No. 5. Given Samson’s strengths as a top-order batter rather than a lower-order finisher, the team felt Jitesh was better suited to the finishing role. Hence, Jitesh Sharma came in as Sanju Samson replacement for this game despite the latter being one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world.

Sanju Samson was India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the Asia Cup 2025. While he was pushed down to the middle order after Gill's arrival into the T20I set-up, he remained to be a part of the Playing 11. However, he was dropped after a string of low scores as the team management preferred Jitesh Sharma over him. The Indian think tank has gone with the same thinking here as well.

Will Sanju Samson Play T20 World Cup 2026?

Despite getting dropped, Sanju Samson remains an important part of India's T20I set-up. He is one of the best wicketkeepers in India and his talent has never been a question. While the requirement of the team kept him out of the Playing 11 for this match, he is likely to be a part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026.

Meanwhile, South Africa put India to the backfoot during the IND vs SA 1st T20I match. The Men in Blue lost Shubman Gill in the first over of the match and then lost the captain Suryakumar Yadav as well. After the powerplay, explosive batter Abhishek Sharma was also dismissed while trying to score quick runs.