After Shubman Gill was ruled out with a right foot injury, Sanju Samson got a crucial chance. (Photo: X/@BCCI)
Sanju Samson has been handed a crucial opportunity to revive his T20I career after Shubman Gill was ruled out of the fifth and final T20I between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter replaced Gill in the playing XI as India made multiple changes for the series decider.
Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right foot while batting in the nets ahead of the Lucknow T20I earlier this week. Despite receiving treatment from the BCCI medical team, the Indian skipper did not recover in time for the Ahmedabad match.
“After consulting a specialist and getting treatment with the BCCI medical team, he is improving but will be unavailable for selection for the final T20I in Ahmedabad,” the BCCI said in an official statement.
Gill had endured a lean run in the series, managing just 32 runs across the first three matches, which had already drawn criticism from fans and experts.
Gill’s injury opened the door for Sanju Samson, who is playing his first T20I since the Australia tour in October. India had persisted with Gill for the initial matches of the series, keeping Samson on the bench despite repeated calls for his inclusion.
The Ahmedabad T20I is being viewed as a make-or-break outing for Samson, especially with the New Zealand T20I series and the T20 World Cup 2026 selection race heating up.
Samson had a nervy start to his innings, getting beaten twice by Lungi Ngidi’s outswingers in the opening over. He eventually opened his account with a single on the off-side. At the other end, Abhishek Sharma started aggressively, finding the boundary early as India scored six runs from the first over.
India also welcomed back Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the Dharamshala T20I due to family reasons. Washington Sundar replaced Kuldeep Yadav, adding depth to the batting and spin options.
South Africa made two changes to their XI, bringing in David Miller and George Linde in place of Tristan Stubbs and Anrich Nortje.
India Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
South Africa Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman
With competition intensifying for middle-order and wicketkeeper-batter slots, the Ahmedabad T20I presents Sanju Samson with a vital chance to impress the team management and selectors. A strong performance could significantly boost his prospects ahead of the upcoming tours and the T20 World Cup 2026.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes journalism plays a crucial role in amplifying unheard voices and bringing attention to issues that truly matter. Sofia has contributed articles to The New Indian Express, Youth Ki Awaaz, and Maktoob Media. She is also a recipient of the 2025 Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity. Beyond the newsroom, she is a music enthusiast who enjoys singing. Connect with Sofia on X: https://x.com/SBCism
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