Ravi Shastri backs Sanju Samson as India's next T20I captain
Synopsis
Ravi Shastri has thrown his weight behind Sanju Samson as India's future T20I captain — and the case is hard to argue against. A Player of the Tournament award, three consecutive World Cup half-centuries, and five seasons leading Rajasthan Royals add up to a profile that Shastri believes is 'just the start of something more.'
Key Takeaways
Former India coach Ravi Shastri publicly backed Sanju Samson for the India T20I captaincy on The ICC Review .
Shastri linked the transition to the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle, contingent on Suryakumar Yadav's form over the next two years.
Samson won the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup , scoring three consecutive half-centuries in the knockout rounds.
Samson captained the Rajasthan Royals for five IPL seasons , including a runners-up finish in 2022 .
The 31-year-old has continued his strong form in the IPL following the World Cup triumph.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has named wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson as a frontrunner for the India T20I captaincy, citing the 31-year-old's maturity and match-winning ability as the key factors behind his endorsement. Shastri made the remarks on The ICC Review, following India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup triumph on home soil.
What Shastri Said
Shastri was unambiguous in his assessment, pointing to Samson's performances at the T20 World Cup — across the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final — as evidence of a player ready for the next step. '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,' Shastri said.
He added: '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. 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... makes him a clear case as far as I'm concerned for leadership in the future.'
Samson's World Cup Credentials
Samson was awarded the Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, underlining his centrality to India's title run. He scored three consecutive half-centuries during the campaign, stepping up in knockout fixtures when the pressure was highest. The tournament effectively answered long-standing questions about his consistency at the international level.
IPL Leadership Background
Samson is no stranger to captaincy. He led the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for five seasons, including in 2022 when the franchise finished as runners-up. That experience of managing high-pressure franchise cricket — handling team dynamics, in-game decisions, and external scrutiny — is precisely the kind of grounding Shastri appears to value when projecting Samson as a future national leader.
The Captaincy Picture Beyond 2026
India currently hold the T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, who led the side to the title on home soil. Shastri's comments are framed around the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle, suggesting the transition — if it happens — is not imminent but is worth planning for. Notably, Samson's continued form in the IPL following the World Cup has only reinforced his case, with Shastri describing his current run as 'just the start of something more.' The selectors have not made any public statement on future captaincy arrangements.
Point of View
But it is worth noting what it is and is not: an opinion from a former coach, not a selection signal. The more interesting question is structural — India has rarely planned T20 captaincy transitions proactively, and the gap between a World Cup win and the next cycle is precisely when that planning should happen. Samson's case is strong on paper: franchise leadership experience, proven big-match temperament, and a settled batting role. The risk is that Indian cricket's selection culture tends to reward incumbency over planning, meaning Suryakumar Yadav's tenure could extend well into the next cycle regardless of form. Whether Samson's momentum survives that wait is the real variable Shastri's optimism does not address.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ravi Shastri back Sanju Samson for India's T20I captaincy?
Shastri cited Samson's maturity, his match-winning performances at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup — where he won the Player of the Tournament award — and his five-season captaincy record with the Rajasthan Royals as key reasons. He described Samson as 'a certainty in the side' and said this is 'just the start of something more.'
When could Sanju Samson become India's T20I captain?
Shastri framed the possibility around the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle, suggesting India may look for a new captain depending on how current skipper Suryakumar Yadav performs over the next two years. No official announcement has been made by the selectors.
What was Sanju Samson's performance at the T20 World Cup?
Samson was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which India won on home soil. He scored three consecutive half-centuries during the campaign, with standout contributions in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
Has Sanju Samson captained a team before?
Yes. Samson led the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for five seasons, including in 2022 when the franchise reached the final and finished as runners-up. That franchise captaincy experience is a key part of his leadership credentials.
Who is India's current T20I captain?
Suryakumar Yadav is India's current T20I captain, having led the side to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup title on home soil. Shastri's comments about Samson are projected toward the 2028 cycle, not an immediate change.
