India’s Nets Speak Volumes — But Not About Sanju Samson
In the searing heat of the ICC Academy, India’s second practice session ahead of the upcoming T20 series hinted at growing clarity within the team management about its preferred playing XI. While the session showcased sharp intent, structured drills, and familiar partnerships, it also featured a conspicuous silence — around Sanju Samson.
As Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma, and Rinku Singh dominated the centre-wicket nets, Samson cut a peripheral figure. Following light warm-ups and a token hit in the outfield, he spent much of the evening seated on a red icebox, observing rather than participating.
Symbolism in the Shadows
The irony of Samson’s absence from the spotlight was striking. Not long ago, he was India’s stand-in during Shubman Gill’s injury layoff, stringing together some of his most consistent international performances. Yet on this night, he was waiting as Gill — now back as vice-captain — took his full share of batting time. He was watching as Jitesh Sharma, the other wicketkeeper in the squad, and Rinku Singh, a designated finisher, faced extended spells in the nets.
Samson did eventually bat, but only briefly, and not in a key slot. His stint came alongside allrounders Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel — a net session more about middle-order muscle than top-order finesse. Later, he moved to the spin nets for a short hit, far removed from the intensity that defined the earlier batting sessions.
Gill and Abhishek Lead the Way
At the heart of the session were Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, close friends since their U-12 days. The two trained in tandem — Abhishek playfully swung Gill’s bat before their net session began — and tackled the new ball together in the farthest net, facing Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Later, they seamlessly moved into fielding drills under coach T. Dilip, showcasing their synergy and form.
In the adjacent nets, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav faced a full diet of spin, including Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel. Tilak logged the longest batting session of the night, while Rinku — the first to enter the nets — showed sharpness against spin.
Meanwhile, Varun Chakaravarthy bowled one of the session’s longest spells and followed it with high-catching drills, again under T. Dilip, who spent considerable time with both Varun and Kuldeep — perhaps a nod to the spin strategy India may employ.
Signals and Silences
If practice sessions don’t name playing XIs, they certainly drop hints. The priority given to certain players — especially Gill, Abhishek, Rinku, and Jitesh — and the structured nature of their drills suggested a core group is beginning to emerge.
In contrast, Samson’s marginal role stood out. No fielding drills, limited batting, and no prolonged interactions with coaches — especially during a session where head coach Gautam Gambhir was deeply engaged with key batters like Suryakumar and Gill.
As the sun set on a decisive day of preparation, one conclusion lingered: Samson may still be part of the squad, but as of now, he appears outside the immediate plans for India’s starting XI.