BCCI announced the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and again Sanju Samson failed to make it to the original squad. The Rajasthan Royal skipper is selected as the standby player. The exclusion of Sanju Samson, who has been seen as the next big thing in Indian cricket, and the inclusion of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav also raised eyebrows on the selection committee’s decision and their plans.
The Kerala-based keeper batsman made his ODI debut in 2021 against Sri Lanka, which was followed by a gap of a year before he featured in the Indian Squad against West Indies. The unfairness Sanju faced had been criticized by many former players and fans. Let’s dive into the truth behind this inequitable behavior against Sanju Samson.
Sanju Samson ignored once again
The 15-men Indian Squad features some good picks and a comeback of KL Rahul after a serious thigh injury and Shreyas Iyer. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also made it into the squad for the Asian Challenge. Mumbai Indian’s Keeper batter Ishan Kishan was named second Wicket keeper.
While MI’s teammate Tilak Varma got his maiden ODI call. The pace department features some quality seam bowling led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. While Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav will be the spinning option for the team.
Samson, the right-handed flamboyant batter, has an impressive record in his short ODI career. He averages 55.71 with a good strike rate of over 100. Sanju’s average is far better than a few players who had been selected in the squad, like Suryakumar Yadav (average below 25), Ishan Kishan 46.26, KL Rahul nearly 45, and the newly debuted Tilak Varma.
Ghosts of Favoritism are back?
The selection of Mr. 360 of India, Suryakumar Yadav, and MI’s southpaw Tilak Varma in the Asia Cup 2023 squad ahead of proven players like Samson raised concern about the future of Rajasthan’s skipper. We have already seen the dominance of the Mumbai Indians franchise in making players into the senior team.
Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and newly added Tilak Varma are the best in the business, but it is not fair to select players only by judging them in the IPL and not testing them in the Indian Domestic circuit.
Many former players came into the support of Sanju Samson, Former cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra believes that Sanju Samson should be given a chance ahead of already struggling Suryakumar Yadav and southpaw Tilak Varma.
Men in Blue is still struggling to solve their number four batting conundrum, While Shreyas Iyer holds the spot tightly, it might pass on to Suryakumar Yadav or KL Rahul. This shows the irresoluteness in the team’s mind which may cost them another marquee tournament.
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