'If we lose again, who is next?': Ashwin accuses selectors of making players insecure on England tour by dropping Samson

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the selectors and team management for keeping Sanju Samson out of the Zimbabwe squad. Samson has been dropped from the playing eleven as well due to his poor form, confirmed head coach Gautam Gambhir in the post-match press conference on July 7. It has led to Ashwin accusing the selectors of making players insecure on the ongoing England tour. He feels snubbing Samson from T20I squad is ‘unfair’.

“I mean, what can I even say? It’s just unfair. Just unfair. I don’t agree with it. But it is what it is. I mean, I don’t know. Seriously, it’s difficult," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

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Ashwin wonders who will be dropped next from the side if India lose another match. He hopes that Samson makes it back to the side.

“Sanju has been dropped because of losses and form. He has been left out. We’ve already lost two games. If we lose again, will someone else be dropped too? Who is next? That’s wrong. I really hope the Indian team finds itself. Indian cricketers should not be put in an insecure position," the 39-year-old said. 

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Samson has been going through a rough patch on the UK tour. He has managed to score just six runs from three innings. Notably, he scored three consecutive half-centuries in T20 World Cup 2026, including the must-win game against West Indies, semifinal against England and the final against New Zealand.

No Samson but India lose 2 more in a row

Samson has lost his place to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young southpaw has managed is yet to get to the 20-run mark in an innings. In Samson’s absence, India have lost two T20Is in the England series as well. In the previous T20I, India were bundled out for 76 in the run chase of 202 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Gambhir had expressed that every player in the side should earn his place in the side through consistent performances and not rest on laurels. 

Who replaced Samson on Zimbabwe tour?

Reportedly, Samson has been rested for the tour. In his place, Prabhsimran Singh is the second wicketkeeper-batter in the series. The 25-year-old was part of the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 squad but didn't get to make his debut. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener scored 510 runs from 13 innings, averaging 42.50 at a strike rate of 168.87. He scored six fifties in IPL 2026.