Indian fans expressed dissatisfaction with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday as they were unhappy with the exclusion of star wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson from the national squad for the T20I series against South Africa.
The announcement of the squads for the multi-format tour on Thursday the BCCI left Samson out of the T20I squad, with Suryakumar Yadav continuing as captain after leading India in the home T20I series against Australia. Samson, however, has been included in the ODI squad for the tour just after the conclusion of the World Cup.
Key players such as Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammad Shami have been rested for the series, indicating a decision to field a younger side.
The question arises: Did Sanju Samson deserve a place in the Indian side? The Indian selectors generally stick to a set pool of players, making minor alterations but not expecting wholesale changes to the core team. While Samson had made an appearance in the West Indies and Ireland tour earlier in the year, he had a mixed bag of results away from home. His performance was decent, but not enough to establish himself as indispensable in the squad. With his exclusion despite the frontline names being rested, the message is loud and clear.
Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup in 2024, Samson has been named the skipper of Kerala in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. His path is clear – perform in the domestic circuit, score runs, and wait for the opportunity. Despite being pitted against Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma, Samson still has a chance given the Indian Premier League (IPL) will take place just before the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Samson’s ODI and T20I records show a fairly good performance. He carries a lot of potential and can use the IPL to force his way into the Indian team.
As the Indian side gears up for the series against South Africa, the T20I squad includes Suryakumar Yadav as captain, along with other prominent players. The South African squad is yet to be announced.
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