- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,192,842
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
India vs England 4th T20I 2026 lineups with potential return of Sanju Samson at Bristol originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- India face a must-win fourth T20I in Bristol, trailing 0-2 in the series.
- Sanju Samson may return, with Tilak Varma's spot under the scanner.
- Gautam Gambhir faces pressure to fix the middle-order and avoid series defeat.
Sanju Samson might return to India's XI in 4th T20I
With their backs against the wall and a string of selection headaches still unresolved, Shreyas Iyer's India walk into Thursday's fourth T20 international in Bristol knowing anything less than a win could end the series.
At the centre of the selection debate is Sanju Samson, who was left out of both the second and third matches to make way for 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The youngster hasn't necessarily outperformed the rest of the batting unit, but with India now staring at a 0-2 deficit, head coach Gautam Gambhir has kept the door open for Samson's return to the XI.
It's been a whirlwind few months for the Kerala batter, whose fortunes have swung dramatically from being sidelined to enjoying a purple patch, only to now find himself back where he started.
“Regarding Sanju, we are very clear what he has done for India has been phenomenal and sometimes you just have to look at the form of a certain player. There is no hard and fast rule that he cannot make a comeback in this series," he said.
To fit Samson back into the side without disturbing the opening combination, and to let Sooryavanshi continue building his game without added pressure, India may need to rework their middle order instead.
Ishan Kishan looks set to keep his place behind the stumps and in the batting lineup, given the management's continued faith in both his glovework and his attacking instincts.
That leaves vice-captain Tilak Varma facing the toughest questions about his position. Despite his reputation as a reliable finisher, the Mumbai Indians batter has struggled to convert starts throughout the England leg of the tour, managing scores of 13, an unbeaten 24, and just 3, with his one bright spot being a fighting 55 in a narrow one-run loss to Ireland that ultimately came to nothing.
India's probable XI and starting lineup for 4th T20I
Below is a predicted lineup for India as they chase a victory in Bristol. The batting order features the potential return of Samson, in place of Tilak Varma.
India (probable XI)
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Sanju Samson
- Axar Patel
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Prince Yadav
MORE: 'Best sports team in the world': Michael Vaughan believes Australia women are the greatest team after 14th ICC World Cup title
Will Gautam Gambhir bring back Sanju Samson?
Reinstating Samson makes sense on paper, but it also risks becoming a pattern of reactive selection rather than a well-thought-out strategy.
India's real issue isn't just who bats where; it's the lack of a settled middle order capable of absorbing pressure in unfamiliar conditions.
Dropping Varma now, after backing him through a lean patch, would send a confusing message about consistency in selection. If Gambhir and Agarkar truly want to fix things, they need a plan that extends beyond one match, not just a reactive shuffle aimed at surviving Bristol.
Otherwise, this constant chopping and changing will keep undermining any real batting stability.
For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.
Continue reading...
