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Team India is gearing up for the upcoming Champions Trophy, with the final squad announced yesterday. The same squad will also play in the three-match home ODI series against England. Harshit Rana has been added as a backup option for the England series, considering the fitness concerns of Jasprit Bumrah. However, fans were left disappointed as wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson missed out.
It appears that Samson’s absence from the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy for Kerala played a significant role in his omission. A few days ago, Samson was seen practicing at the Sharjah Cricket Academy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Addressing the situation, Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president Jayesh George said: “I am not sure if Samson missing the tournament was the reason he was excluded. The reason he was not added to the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We were all under the impression that he would be leading the team since he is our white-ball captain and had led in the SMAT season as well.”
He further added: “So we went ahead and announced the squad and later he sent a message stating he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected. We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like it? How did Samson reach the Indian team, it was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like for the Kerala team.”
For the ODI series, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were preferred as wicketkeeping options ahead of Samson. In 14 ODI innings, Samson has scored 510 runs at an impressive average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60. He last played an ODI in December 2023 against South Africa in Paarl, where he smashed 108 off 114 balls.
Here is how fans have reacted to Sanju Samson’s omission from Team India squad
https://x.com/18_kohlify/status/1880562654001127551
https://x.com/MidnightMusinng/status/1880547824330473898
https://x.com/misterpiyush/status/1880688129704960432
https://x.com/registanroyals/status/1880549338440716474
https://x.com/iamharshtegta/status/1880549043262402787
https://x.com/serialchiller_2/status/1880554204521246729
https://x.com/wvraman/status/1880644304642949359