Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Sanju Samson has emerged as the most convincing leadership prospect for India’s T20I team in the coming years, calling him a “clear case” after the wicketkeeper-batter’s dramatic rise over the last season. Shastri’s backing comes after Samson delivered a standout role in India’s triumphant ICC T20 World Cup 2026 run, where he was also named Player of the Tournament.
Shastri’s view on Samson’s captaincy timeline
- Shastri suggested India may need to consider a captaincy change ahead of the next T20 World Cup, scheduled for 2028.
- He pointed out that current skipper Suryakumar Yadav is expected to be 37 by the time that tournament arrives, which could influence planning for leadership.
- In that context, Shastri said Samson could be among the serious contenders to lead India in the shortest format within the next two to three years.
Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri said the national team’s captaincy picture could shift depending on how Suryakumar performs over the next couple of years, adding that India might look for a new leader come the 2028 World Cup.
Why Shastri thinks Samson is ready
Shastri argued that Samson’s case is no longer theoretical because he has already shown leadership experience with Rajasthan Royals, and his position in India’s batting order has continued to strengthen. He described Samson as a dependable presence at the top who can be “extremely destructive,” framing his captaincy growth as something that is only beginning.
The former India all-rounder also highlighted Samson’s captaincy background with Rajasthan Royals, where he led the franchise across five IPL seasons and steered the team to the final in 2022. That earlier responsibility, Shastri said, helped establish credibility well before Samson’s recent international surge.
International impact and IPL maturity
What ultimately convinced Shastri, however, was Samson’s transformation into a consistent match-winner on the big stage. He referenced Samson’s impact following the T20 World Cup, where he “almost” won games for India largely on his own—especially in high-pressure matches including the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. Shastri also linked that international maturity to Samson’s current approach in the IPL, saying it reinforces his leadership credentials going forward.
“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, 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,” Shastri said.
Silencing doubts about consistency
Shastri further claimed Samson has finally shut down long-standing doubts about his consistency, saying the talent was always evident but some observers felt he had not always fully delivered on it. Now, he believes Samson has put an end to those question marks.
“I think he 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,” Shastri added.
