Sanju Samson speaks out on selection battle with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's emergence, says 'Definitely, it affects...'

Following a match-winning knock to seal the T20I series against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson offered a candid look into the high-stakes battle for India’s top order. The hard-hitting batter acknowledged the selection headaches facing captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir, while emphasising a team-first ethos despite the intense scrutiny surrounding the squad.

Sanju Samson on fighting for India opening spot

Samson responded to earlier struggles with a explosive 22-ball 57 in the second T20I against Afghanistan, driving India to an unassailable 2-0 lead after falling for just 10 in the opener. While Samson partnered Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, Zimbabwe series standout Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remained on the bench—highlighting the fierce competition for places in the side.

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Addressing the media post-match, Samson dismissed the notion of personal rivalries with fellow openers Sooryavanshi and Sharma, explaining that team victories override individual ambitions and that dwelling on selection calls has no place in the dressing room. He also lightheartedly mentioned trying to "switch the Wi-Fi off" to block out external commentary, adding that while media scrutiny and former players' opinions inevitably impact Indian cricketers, maintaining mental clarity remains essential.

“I think Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma are competitors for the outside world, but we are a team. We want to win the game first, and then it comes down to the other individuals. We can’t sulk or be in a negative frame of mind, thinking, ‘Yaar, mujhe nahi mila, usko kyun diya.’ Those kinds of mindsets don’t work here,” Samson said after the match.

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Sanju Samson’s journey back into the XI follows a tumultuous sequence of selections. After earning Player of the Tournament honors during the T20 World Cup, he was briefly dropped following quiet outings across the Ireland series and early England T20Is. The team management tested Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for three matches before restoring Samson for the England series finale. Sooryavanshi then capitalized on Samson's absence during the subsequent Zimbabwe tour, piling up 151 runs across three games to keep the pressure on the top order.

Reflecting on the emotional toll of the selection roller-coaster following the Afghanistan win, Samson admitted that handling such uncertainty requires mental resilience. He acknowledged that while dropped players naturally feel the impact—emphasizing that cricketers are not immune to disappointment, his experience now helps him process those setbacks without letting them dictate his play.

Rather than letting fear of failure paralyze his game, Samson relies on a simplified mindset when at the crease. He noted that overthinking the consequences of getting out or worrying about public reaction would destroy his freedom to express himself, choosing instead to play without hesitation.

"I think I have been mature enough and experienced enough to know how to handle it. Earlier, it used to hurt a little. I’m not a machine. We are not robots, that we can say, ‘No, it doesn’t affect me.’ Definitely, it affects you,” Samson concluded.