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Sanju Samson’s exclusion from India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad has sparked discussions among fans and cricket experts alike. Announced in Mumbai on Saturday, the 15-member squad features two wicketkeepers—KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant—leaving Samson out of the reckoning despite his consistent performances in recent months.
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Samson’s Stellar Recent Form
Sanju Samson’s omission raises eyebrows given his impressive recent form. The Kerala-born wicketkeeper-batter scored two centuries in his last T20I series against South Africa in November 2024. Additionally, Samson scored a century in his most recent ODI, albeit over a year ago, in December 2023, against South Africa.
With Rishabh Pant confirmed as the first-choice wicketkeeper and KL Rahul playing as a pure batter, Samson would likely have been a backup option had he been selected. However, the selectors chose to leave him out entirely, leading to speculation about the reasons behind the decision.
Why Was Sanju Samson Ignored?
One significant factor that might have influenced Samson’s exclusion is his decision to skip the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier 50-over domestic competition.
- Samson last played competitive cricket during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on December 3, 2024, and his most recent 50-over game for any side came against South Africa on December 21, 2023.
- Reports suggest that the BCCI selectors were unhappy with Samson missing the Vijay Hazare Trophy, especially since the board had issued directives encouraging players to participate in domestic cricket when not on national duty.
- Instead of featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Samson was spotted training at the Rajasthan Royals High-Performance Centre, which may have further raised concerns about his commitment to the 50-over format.
What Could Have Been?
Had Samson participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he might have bolstered his case for inclusion, as consistent domestic performances have historically influenced selection decisions.
Samson’s ability to adapt to different batting positions and his excellent record in ODIs (average of 56.66 in 16 matches) could have provided India with a reliable backup wicketkeeper-batter for the Champions Trophy.
India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Squad
Here’s the squad selected for the tournament:
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rishabh Pant
- Ravindra Jadeja
The Road Ahead for Sanju Samson
While the exclusion is undoubtedly a setback, Samson remains a valuable asset in India’s white-ball setup. To strengthen his case for future tournaments, focusing on consistent performances in domestic cricket and maintaining match fitness will be crucial.
For now, India will hope the selected squad delivers a strong performance in the Champions Trophy, beginning with their opening match against Bangladesh on February 20, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
