Sanju Samsonof Dropped from India’s 15-man squad for Champions Cup 2025 caused considerable debate among the cricketing community. Despite being in sensational form, he scored three centuries in his last five T20I innings and scored a ton in his last ODI outing. South Africa In December 2024, Samson was overlooked by the voters.
Shashi Tharoor criticizes KCA’s mismanagement
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor openly criticized it Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) They blamed their harsh policies for their mishandling of Samson’s case. Samson informed the KCA in advance that he would not be able to attend the pre-selection training camp. However, the KCA enforced their rules on players attending these camps, leading to Samson’s exclusion from the squad. Tharoor mentioned that the main reason why Samson was left out of the team was because he was not in the team. Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024where Kerala failed to reach the quarter finals.
“The sad saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson – the player wrote to the KCA in advance lamenting his inability to attend the training camp between the SMA and Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments and was immediately dropped – has now resulted in Sanju’s exclusion from the Indian team.” Tharoor wrote on the social network
Tharoor highlighted how KCA’s short-sightedness and tough approach has now led to the decline of Kerala cricket and Samson’s exclusion from the big ODI tournament. Tharoor raised relevant questions, asking whether it was fair for the KCA to punish a player of Samson’s caliber for administrative lapses.
“A batsman with a top score of 212* in Hazara, an average of 56.66 in ODIs for India (including a century last time out against South Africa) is having his career ruined by the egos of cricket administrators. Doesn’t it worry the KCA bosses that they left out Sanju and ensured Kerala Hazare didn’t even make it to the quarter finals? Where does that leave him?” Tharoor concluded.
The sad saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson – the player wrote to the KCA in advance regretting that he could not attend the training camp between the SMA and Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments and was promptly dropped from the squad – has now come to an end. in…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 18, 2025
Also READ: Ajit Agarkar explains why Mohammad Siraj was not selected for Champions Trophy 2025
Sanju Samson’s latest form and achievements
Having captained Kerala in various domestic tournaments, Samson has been in incredible form of late. He was in charge of Kerala Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024where his team won four out of six matches but narrowly missed out on qualifying for the knockouts. Samson also showed that his form in the shortest format remains formidable by scoring a double century during India’s T20I tour of South Africa in November 2024.
His consistent performances in ODIs and T20Is kept him on the selectors’ radar, but his absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy ultimately cost him a chance to make the Champions Trophy squad. Despite his excellent record, including his century in the last ODI against South Africa, and his outstanding performances in domestic tournaments, the management was inclined to pick T20 World Cup 2024 standout Rishabh Pant instead of Samson.
Samson’s future with the Indian team
Samson is still part of the Indian T20I squad Upcoming five-match series against EnglandHis absence from the Champions Trophy in Kolkata since January 22 highlights his precarious position. His absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy has now become the deciding factor in his exclusion and apart from KCA, his fate in future ODIs remains uncertain. addresses the situation and gives him a fair opportunity to perform.
