IND vs SA 2025: Gautam Gambhir Dragged After Sanju Samson Got Dropped from South Africa T20Is
Fans question Sanju Samson’s omission in 1st T20I as old Gambhir quote trends and memes flood social media.
Sanju Samson was left out of India’s Playing XI for the 1st T20I against South Africa in Cuttack. The decision surprised many fans because Samson has been in good form and has two T20I centuries against the same opponent in his career.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first at Barabati Stadium. Soon after the line-up was announced, social media began buzzing with reactions.
Many fans quickly remembered an old story Samson once shared about Gautam Gambhir’s strong faith in him. Samson had recalled a moment when he felt low after two failures, and Gambhir walked up to him.
“He asked me what happened,” Samson had said. “I told him I had two chances but couldn’t score. He said, ‘So what?’ and then added, ‘Only if you get 21 ducks will I drop you from the team.’” Samson said those words lifted his confidence and showed him how much Gambhir trusted him.
Because of that famous quote, fans were even more surprised to see Samson not getting a spot today. Memes and jokes started flooding the internet, many directed at Gambhir, who is now India’s head coach.
One user wrote, “So the guy who scored two T20I centuries against South Africa the last time we played them… had to sit on the bench now.”
A few others felt Sanju Samson deserved a chance because he has been in rhythm and is known to perform well against this attack. Some argued the team wanted extra flexibility in the middle order or preferred another wicketkeeping option for this match.
The decision has turned into one of the biggest talking points of the game. Fans hope Samson will get his opportunity later in the series, especially since India are looking to build a stable squad ahead of next year’s tournaments.
