Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Sanju Samson as a future candidate for the India T20I captaincy. With the team looking ahead to the 2028 T20 World Cup, Shastri said the Chennai Super Kings batter is well placed to take on the role in time. The job currently belongs to Suryakumar Yadav, but in Shastri’s view, Samson’s mix of explosive batting and leadership experience makes him a strong case for the future.
Leadership and form
Shastri pointed to Samson’s record as captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL as evidence of his tactical sense, and said the batter had answered earlier questions about his consistency with a more mature game. He is now seen as a near-certainty in the side at the top of the order.
Samson’s stock has rarely been higher. He was among the standout performers at the recent T20 World Cup, scoring 321 runs at a strike rate of nearly 199, and has already made two centuries in his first IPL season with Chennai in 2026. Shastri noted that his performances in the knockout games — quarter-final, semi-final and final — helped keep India in contention.
A competitive race
Samson isn’t the only name in the frame; Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has also been linked to the role. India’s upcoming T20I assignments — a two-match series against Ireland and a five-match series in England starting in July — will offer more chances to press the case.
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