'Where does Sanju Samson stand?' - Dinesh Karthik questions India’s T20I plans

Dinesh Karthik has raised critical questions about the Indian team's direction ahead of the T20I series against Afghanistan, specifically questioning where star batter Sanju Samson fits into the squad's plans. The former India wicketkeeper-batter's comments come as the team prepares for matches beginning in New Delhi on September 13, 2026, following disappointing results in recent tours.

Karthik's concerns centre on the team's batting order and squad composition under new captain Shreyas Iyer, who took over the T20I captaincy in June 2026. India did not get results in Ireland or England and were absolutely outplayed there, prompting questions about the team's identity and direction moving forward.

"What is the batting order going to look like? Where does Vaibhav Suryavanshi stand, and what about Sanju Samson? How are you going to fit him in? He was such an important player in the World Cup and was dropped midway through that England series. Where does he stand?," Karthik said on Instagram.

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Samson's inconsistent selection in recent series

Samson's selection status has been inconsistent in recent months. He played the series opener against England but was left out for the next three matches. He returned for the final T20I and partnered Abhishek at the top of the order before being left out of the squad for the Zimbabwe series. He is back in the squad for the Afghanistan series.

Samson's credentials are strong. He was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup, establishing himself as a key player for India. However, his recent omissions have raised questions about his role in the team's future plans.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India's youngest player, made his international debut in the second T20I against England in Manchester and opened alongside Abhishek during that series. His emergence adds another dimension to the batting order puzzle that Karthik has highlighted.

Karthik's concerns on team identity and strategy

Karthik emphasised the need for clarity on the team's identity and strategy under the new leadership. He questioned whether the management has a clear plan for the bowling unit and which players they intend to trust going forward.

"I want this Indian T20 team to understand what their identity is. New captain, new vice-captain. They haven't got the result in Ireland or in England. They were absolutely outplayed there. What does it take?," Karthik said.

"What is their plan? What is the bowling looking like? Who are the players you are going to trust? A lot of this is not just about winning the series; it's about understanding what they need to take out from this series against Afghanistan," he added.

The Afghanistan series provides India with an opportunity to settle their batting order and bowling combination ahead of the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The team will face Japan in a one-off match on September 22 before the Asian Games quarterfinal on September 28, making the next few weeks crucial for establishing their T20I identity.