The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the squad for the upcoming ODI and T20 series against Sri Lanka. To the disappointment of many fans, Sanju Samson has not made the cut. This decision comes despite Samson’s stellar performance in the last ODI series against South Africa, where he single-handedly secured a victory for India.
Samson’s exclusion is surprising, especially after his impressive run in the IPL. However, after a couple of failures, he was overlooked for the T20 World Cup, and now he finds himself out of the ODI squad as well.
The team traveling to Sri Lanka for the three-match ODI series is likely to be similar to the one that will compete in next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan or at a neutral venue. New head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has publicly praised Samson, calling him a class player and a match-winner, seems to have other plans for the team’s composition.
Gambhir’s appointment follows Rahul Dravid’s decision to step down as head coach after India’s T20 World Cup win. Fans anticipated that Gambhir would give Samson a significant opportunity, but the selection committee has chosen Shivam Dube, considering him a long-term option for the white-ball format.
Interestingly, Rinku Singh has also been left out, while Shreyas Iyer makes a return. Iyer, former KKR captain, mentored by Gambhir, finds his way back into the squad. Additionally, Rishabh Pant is included as the wicketkeeper, and despite expectations that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would take a break, both will participate in the ODI series.
A notable omission is Ravindra Jadeja, who retired from T20 cricket last month and is now excluded from the ODI setup, hinting at his potential exclusion from future selections. Instead, Washington Sundar is given a chance, and the bowling lineup sees the inclusion of new faces like Harshit Rana, known for his performance with KKR in the IPL.
The absence of Sanju Samson continues to be a point of contention. Despite his match-winning century against South Africa, he seems to face tougher scrutiny compared to other players who had longer leashes before establishing themselves in the Indian team. His fans argue that judging him based on a few matches does a disservice to his potential and previous contributions to the team.
As India gears up for the series in Sri Lanka, the team selection decisions will be closely watched, with many hoping that consistent performers like Samson will get their deserved opportunities in the near future.
