Sanju Samson is not part of the Indian playing XI for the second T20I against England at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on Saturday (July 4). The 2026 T20 World Cup’s Player of the Tournament (POTM) was left out of the line-up as the Men in Blue made one change to the line-up with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi taking his place.
While no mention has been made of Samson’s absence, it is likely that he has been rested as India have decided to give the 15-year-old a chance. In the first three games on the tour, Abhishek Sharma and Samson opened the innings.
Samson had a poor run of form with the bat as he made single-digit scores in both innings on the Ireland tour as well as the first game against England. The 31-year-old was dismissed for 5,1, and 0.
At the toss, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer talked about the tough competition for places in Indian cricket on being asked about India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav as well as POTT winner Samson’s absence.
“Well, absolutely. You see the competition. It’s game after game like the amount of talent India produces over the last couple of months and years. I think it’s pleasing to the eye and also it keeps us especially on the toes as well throughout the series. Because pressure is a privilege, I feel. And if you perform under pressure, you reap the benefits as well,” said Shreyas.
India vs England Playing XIs for 2nd T20I in Manchester
India Playing XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
England Playing XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Harry Brook(c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
