Sanju Samson set to become India’s new T20I captain? Check details

Former Indian cricketer, head coach, and present commentator Ravi Shastri has come out in support of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, asserting that he should be appointed as the next captain of the T20 team. According to Shastri, Samson possesses not only the batting prowess required to succeed at the highest level but also exceptional leadership qualities. This combination, he believes, could propel the Indian team to new heights. He has previously captained the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and was successful in guiding the team to significant success.

However, Shastri acknowledged that all of this would ultimately depend on the decisions Suryakumar Yadav makes regarding his own career path. Should India require a new captain in the future, Shastri views Samson as the most suitable candidate to take over the leadership reins.

“India, come the next (T20) World Cup (in 2028), might be looking for a new captain, depending on how Surya goes over the next couple of years. But Sanju Samson has put himself there for a leadership role because he's done that in the past for Rajasthan (Royals).  And he's a certainty in the side, at the top of the order, extremely destructive. So I see him, this is just the start of something more, you'll see from Sanju over the next two or three years,” Ravi Shastri said. 

Sanju Samson was recently named the 'Player of the Tournament' in the recently concluded 2026 T20 World Cup. He played a pivotal role in India's World Cup victory, amassing 321 runs across just four innings at a blistering strike rate of 199.37. However, Sanju Samson's career has largely been marked by setbacks; despite delivering stellar performances, he often struggled to secure a consistent spot in Team India. There were even periods—before the World Cup—when Samson experienced a dip in form, for which he faced considerable criticism. Yet, according to Shastri, those difficult days for Sanju are now firmly in the past.

His debut season with the Chennai Super Kings has also been nothing short of spectacular, as he has already smashed two centuries during the ongoing IPL 2026 season. 

“I think he (Samson) has put a lid on all those question marks. There was always ability. People would, in fact, be disappointed because he wouldn't do justice to that ability. But my word this season, the way he's played after his performance in the T20 World Cup where single-handedly he almost won India games, the big games, the quarter-finals (West Indies, Super 8), semi-finals, the final, and the way he stepped up and the maturity he's showing now in the IPL, makes him a clear case as far as I'm concerned for leadership in the future,” he added. 

The captaincy of India's T20 team continues to be a major topic of discussion in the media; reports suggest that Shreyas Iyer could be entrusted with this responsibility. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya's name is also being deliberated upon. Following the IPL, the 'Men in Blue' are set to play their first T20I assignment—a two-match series against Ireland. Subsequently, they will tour England, where they are scheduled to participate in a five-match series commencing in July. With this, India's journey to achieve a hat-trick of T20 World Cup victories will officially begin. It now remains to be seen who will be handed the reins of the team.