Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opined that fitness could be the reason behind Sanju Samson‘s exclusion from the playing XI in the last two T20Is against England. The Keralam keeper-batter was dropped from the India cricket team‘s line-up after registering single-digit scores in three consecutive games. Contrary to the popular opinion that Sanju has been dropped due to dip in his form, Manjrekar believes so otherwise, and has also advised the opener to focus on his fitness.
Sanju Samson’s fitness reason behind snub?
Taking to social media platform X, Sanjay Manjrekar claimed that the only reason that was valid for dropping Sanju Samson was his fitness, adding that it was a fair call to leave him out of the XI if that was the reason. The former Indian cricketer claimed that the opener wasn’t in his peak physical form, making matters more complicated for him. Manjrekar claimed that Samson should keep Virat Kohli as the role model at this stage of his career.
“Only reason that is valid for Samson dropping is his fitness. If that’s the reason, it’s a fair call. Samson not helping his cause by not being in peak physical condition. At this stage of his career, Samson must keep Virat as his role model,” Manjrekar wrote.
Only reason that is valid for Samson dropping is his fitness. If that’s the reason, it’s a fair call. Samson not helping his cause by not being in peak physical condition. At this stage of his career, Samson must keep Virat as his role model.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 8, 2026This is probably the first time that Sanju has been targeted over his fitness and not form. It is quite an unpopular opinion. Meanwhile, India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir informed that Samson had been dropped due to his form. He said that he had provided clarity to the opener on his omission from the playing XI in the ENG vs IND 2nd and 3rd T20I.
Samson has been consistently inconsistent in his T20I career. At the start of the year, he performed poorly in the series against New Zealand, scoring 46 runs in 5 matches. He then became India’s T20 World Cup 2026 hero, having played knocks of 97*, 89 and 89 in the knockout stages. He was named the Player of the Tournament. Then, Samson scored 477 runs in 14 IPL 2026 matches. After that, he registered scores of 0 and 5 against Ireland, and 1 against England in the 1st T20I before he was dropped.
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