NEW DELHI: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma addressed the media in Mumbai on Saturday to announce India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Among the many key speaking factors was the omission of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from the group.
Samson final represented India within the T20I collection in opposition to South Africa in November final yr, the place he delivered two exceptional centuries. His distinctive kind had sparked requires his inclusion alongside KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as a wicketkeeping choice.
Nevertheless, Samson’s absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier 50-over home event, could have performed a task in his exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad.
Kerala Cricket Affiliation (KCA) president Jayesh George criticised Samson for his method, revealing that the batter had knowledgeable the affiliation of his unavailability with only a ‘one-line textual content’.
Talking about Samson’s absence, George stated, “I’m not certain if Samson lacking the event was the explanation he was excluded. The explanation he was not added within the Vijay Hazare squad was as a result of he despatched a one-line textual content saying he wouldn’t be accessible for the 30-member preparatory camp. We had been all the impression that he could be main the group since he’s our white-ball captain and had led within the SMAT season as effectively.”
“So we went forward and introduced the squad and later he despatched a message stating he’s accessible for choice. Be it Sanju Samson or another participant, KCA has a coverage in place that must be revered. Everyone knows that Sanju doesn’t want a camp to come back into the squad, however is the Kerala group one which he can come and signify solely when he appears like? How did Samson attain the Indian group? It was solely by way of the KCA. That doesn’t imply you flip up solely whenever you really feel like for the Kerala group,” George instructed MediaOne.
In the meantime, Samson has been named within the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I collection in opposition to England, beginning February 22. He’s one in all two wicketkeepers within the squad, alongside Dhruv Jurel.
The collection opener is scheduled for Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The second T20I’ll happen on January 25 on the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, adopted by the third on January 28 at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
The fourth sport will likely be held on January 31 on the Maharashtra Cricket Affiliation Stadium in Pune, with the fifth and ultimate T20I slated for February 2 on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
