"End for Sanju Samson unless Shubman Gill decides to retire" - Fans furious over wicketkeeper's exclusion from playing 11 in AUS vs IND 2025 3rd T20I

Team India wicketkeeper Sanju Samson was left out of the playing XI for the third T20I against Australia in Hobart on Sunday, November 2. Samson was one of several batters to have failed in the side's second T20I defeat to the Aussies in Melbourne.

The 30-year-old had established himself at the top of the order in T20Is from the middle of last year until the recent Asia Cup. Samson scored three centuries as an opener with an average of almost 38 and a strike rate of 183.70 in 12 innings.

However, with Shubman Gill's inclusion in the T20I side since the Asia Cup, Samson has moved down the order. The Kerala gloveman has batted across positions over the last nine T20Is since Gill's return, mainly at No. 3 and 5.

Fans on X were unimpressed by the management's decision to drop Samson from the playing XI and reacted as follows:

Indraneel Binu

@BinuIndraneel

so i am assuming that's the end for sanju samson in the blues unless gill decides to retire from t20is. mad potential but could never reach his prime.

Himanshu Agarwal

@itshimanshu_26

Can't understand the management of this team sanju samson who hits 3 💯 at the opening place first you replace his position for future captain and now you remove him from the team bcz he cant able to score down the order in few innings #INDvsAUS #SanjuSamson #AUSvIND

Dhaval Patel

@CricCrazy0

It's tough to be Sanju Samson. He was our opener till January, then came to the middle order in September and now after playing one match at number three he has been dropped from the playing XI.

Fans continued to slam the decision to drop Samson, with one saying:

"Shubman Gill you will never see Heaven. Now, Because of you Sanju Samson has been dropped from the playing Xl. SHAME ON YOU."

"Gill was complete flop from last 10 innings. He has opened in all 10games still no 50scored. Samson who scored 3 100as an opener is benched for Gill. Surya failed from last one year. One failure they have thrown Sanju out of the team. Never gonna watch this again," posted a fan.

"Complete mockery by GG and SKY. What is the fault of sanju samson? To accomodate Gill they are wasting a talented batsman who smashed 3 T20 centuries in recent times. I just want this Indian team to loose this series by 4-0," a fan said.

Team India make two other changes apart from Samson's exclusion

Team India made two other changes apart from Jitesh Sharma replacing Sanju Samson for the third T20I against Australia. After a subpar outing in Melbourne, Kuldeep Yadav was left out, with off-spinner Washington Sundar replacing him.

India also replaced Harshit Rana with fellow pacer Arshdeep Singh despite the former's crucial runs in the second T20I. After rain washed out the opening encounter inside the first 10 overs of India's batting, the visitors suffered a four-wicket defeat in the second T20I.

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and asked Australia to bat first. Australia lead the five-match series by a 1-0 margin, entering the all-important third T20I.