IND vs ENG: Sanju Samson should have been 'Vice-Captain,' loyal fans feels Kerala batter deserves more

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IND vs ENG: The announcement of India's squad for the five-match T20I series against England has stirred debate among fans, particularly over the leadership appointments.

While Suryakumar Yadav was named captain and Axar Patel the vice-captain, fans were left wondering why Sanju Samson, who has prior leadership experience, was overlooked for the deputy role.

One fan expressed frustration on Twitter, writing, "Why was Sanju Samson not made vice-captain? I think BCCI is waiting for Sanju to fail so that they can drop him from the team and play Abhishek, Jaiswal and Gill in the 2026 World Cup."

Another user argued, "Sanju Samson should have been made the vice captain of T20 because he is the captain of IPL, and Axar Patel will not play in the playing eleven in every situation."

Samson's supporters have pointed to his impressive recent form and his ability to perform under pressure. Highlighting the difference between Samson and Rishabh Pant, a tweet read, "Dropping Rishabh Pant from T20Is is a sensible decision by BCCI. There's no point in giving chances to someone with 75 T20Is under their belt and no significant performances to show. Sanju Samson has ended his T20I career permanently."

Another fan celebrated Samson's journey, tweeting, "From the Most Trolled Indian player to the first choice WK & opener for India in T20Is. You came a long way, man Sanju Samson. Waiting for 5th international 💯. ~ Proud fan."

A particularly striking stat was shared: "Sanju Samson is a permanent opener and fixed his spot in T20I cricket till 2026 WC by his performance 👊🔥. In his last 5 T20Is, he has more centuries than Rishabh Pant in his entire career and ended sympathy merchant T20 international career in the most brutal way 😭."

As the five-match series kicks off on January 22 in Kolkata, followed by games in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai, the debate over Samson's leadership role adds intrigue. While the BCCI has chosen Axar Patel as vice-captain, Samson's fans remain vocal, asserting that his performances and leadership credentials make him the ideal candidate for the role. The Kerala batter will now have an opportunity to let his bat do the talking and perhaps strengthen his case for a leadership position in the future.