Ahead of Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson should be chosen for the wicketkeeping position in India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, according to former spinner Harbhajan Singh. According to Harbhajan, Samson should be selected because he participated in India’s most recent white-ball series against South Africa.
Samson scored two hundreds and two ducks in all four of the Proteas’ Twenty20 International matches. However, KL Rahul took the wicket keeping glovers in the first two in India’s final ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2024, which is the format for the Champions Trophy, while Rishabh Pant did the same in the third. Samson did not make the squad.
Samson and Pant have also been unable to establish themselves in many international cricket formats. The latter is one of India’s first names on the squad sheet in Test matches, but the former now appears to be a guaranteed starter in T20Is. Samson has participated in 16 ODI matches, amassing 510 runs at an average of 56.66, including three fifties and a century. In contrast, Pant has played 31 games, amassed 871 runs at 33.50, one hundred, and five fifties.
Sanju Samson Must Be Given A Chance Ahead Of Rishabh Pant- Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh on who he thinks should be preferred for Champions Trophy.
“I think one among Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant should be picked. I feel Sanju should be preferred because he had played in South Africa. Rishabh played well in Australia, but it was a long tour, so if he is rested, it’s not a big thing,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
Additionally, Harbhajan stated that he would choose Axar Patel above Ravindra Jadeja for the Champions Trophy team because he thinks the former can replace the latter as a spin all-rounder.
“I have chosen Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja. I think Axar is ready to fulfill the role that Jadeja has done for so many years,” he added.
The future of Jadeja’s ODI career is uncertain. He is 37 years old, and according to several media reports, the BCCI will probably decide that the Champions Trophy is the best time to let him go. White-ball cricket has seen a significant increase in Axar’s stock price. In the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, he made a vital knock. He has already participated in 60 ODIs, taking 64 wickets and amassing 568 runs.