Samson returned to the squad after being dropped in England and immediately turned the tide, knocking out Afghanistan with two fifties in a 3-0 sweep.
The decision to drop the World Cup hero after the first loss in Manchester was a sleepless night for Gambhir, who said he had to make a tough call to give the young Sooryavanshi a chance.
When Samson came back home, he steadied the top order, scoring 63 and 58, and the team posted a total of 190 before chipping away at Afghanistan’s 120.
Gambhir praised Samson’s composure, noting he had accepted the drop gracefully and that the move paid off, while Sooryavanshi remains in the mix as a future option.
With India’s recent World Cup streak still intact, the win reinforces the coaching philosophy of continuity, even when a youngster bursts onto the scene.
The side now looks ahead to the ODI series against the West Indies, a test of depth and strategy.