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'How can I plan for 2028?': Sanju Samson opens up on his India future at next T20 World Cup amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise originally appeared on Cricket News .
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Sanju Samson says he is not thinking about the 2028 T20 World Cup.
The India wicketkeeper insists he will no longer be part of the "rat race."
Samson says he will play cricket on his own terms after winning Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
His comments come amid fierce competition for the opening spot in the T20I team following Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's breakthrough.
'How can I plan for 2028?': Sanju Samson stays grounded despite being dropped after T20 World Cup heroics
Sanju Samson may have played one of the biggest roles in India's successful defence of the T20 World Cup earlier this year and even got himself dropped from the Indian T20I team during the subsequent tour but the wicketkeeper-batter insists he isn't looking too far ahead.
After scoring three consecutive fifties during India's title-winning campaign in 2026, Samson appeared to have cemented his place in the national side. However, a lean run during the subsequent tour of Ireland and first T20I against England saw him dropped for the Zimbabwe series.
India's 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replaced him in the second T20I of the five-match series against England. Samson was later brought back for the final match after the teenager failed to replicate his IPL heroics in the UK.
Speaking on JioHotStar , Samson admitted the unpredictable nature of international cricket has taught him not to think about the 2028 T20 World Cup.
"After the 2024 World Cup, I didn't even expect to play in the 2026 World Cup. I wasn't in the 14 or 15-man squad at one point. So how can I plan for 2028?"
He added that if India still needs him and he continues performing, everything else will take care of itself.
MORE: Sanju Samson recalls trying Virat Kohli's fitness regimen for a 'great career' before giving up after 18 months
'No one will tell me how to bat': Samson embraces a new mindset
Samson also revealed he consciously changed his approach before the 2026 T20 World Cup, deciding to stop worrying about outside opinions.
The 31-year-old said he no longer wanted to be part of what he described as the "rat race" surrounding Indian cricket.
"I decided before the 2026 T20 World Cup that I would not be part of it. I just want to enjoy the game," Samson said. "No one will tell me how to bat or what to do. Sanju will decide for Sanju."
The India star explained that while he remains committed to being a good teammate, he now wants to trust his own instincts instead of trying to satisfy critics or public expectations.
MORE: Why fast-tracking Sooryavanshi to ODI team is not required
The Cricket News Opinion: Samson may have made peace with uncertainty amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise
India's batting depth in the top order has never looked stronger and Sooryavanshi's emergence has added to the selection headache. While the 15-year-old failed in England, he bounced back with a Player of the Series performance in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Samson, meanwhile, wasn't even part of the Zimbabwe squad despite being India's T20 World Cup hero earlier this year, although his inclusion in the Asian Games squad shows he remains in the selectors' plans. Looking ahead to the 2028 T20 World Cup, however, his place is far from guaranteed.
Abhishek Sharma, another opener once considered undroppable, has also shown signs of inconsistency, raising questions over why Samson appears to have a shorter leash than some of his competitors. If India eventually decides they need a right-handed opener alongside their left-handers, Samson's experience could once again become invaluable.
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