Sanju Samson's omission from the Indian squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy was among the many talking points from captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar's press conference on Saturday. Samson's stunning form in T20Is had led to increased calls for him to be included in the team and even be India's first-choice wicketkeeper ahead of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
However, it was also expected that Samson's absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy could work against him. It was reported that the 30-year-old had been dropped from the Kerala squad when he said he was unavailable for preparatory camp before the start of the tournament. Kerala Cricket Association president Jayesh George has now confirmed that this was indeed the case and slammed Samson for sending a "one-line text" stating that he could not take part in the camp in Wayanad.
George was asked on MediaOne if Samson's exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad could've been because he didn't play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. “I am not sure if Samson missing the tournament was the reason he was excluded. The reason he was not added in the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We were all of the impression that he would be leading the team since he is our white-ball captain and had led in the SMAT season as well," George said.
“So we went ahead and announced the squad and later he sent a message stating he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected. We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like? How did Samson reach the Indian team, it was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like for the Kerala team," he said.
Indian squad for the Champions Trophy
{{/usCountry}}“So we went ahead and announced the squad and later he sent a message stating he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected. We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like? How did Samson reach the Indian team, it was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like for the Kerala team," he said.
Indian squad for the Champions Trophy
{{/usCountry}}India, the two-time champions, are strengthened by the potential return of Jasprit Bumrah, though his participation is still dependent on his fitness. As a precaution, Harshit Rana has been named as his backup. If Bumrah is fit to play, he will be joined by Mohammed Shami, who makes his comeback to India’s ODI setup.
Bumrah and Shami will be part of a potent pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh, the country’s standout bowler of 2024, forming India's core seam attack. This squad will also compete in the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning February 6.
Despite his exceptional form, there was no place for Karun Nair in the squad. The Vidarbha captain has been in sensational touch in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 752 runs, including five centuries, at an average of 752. His performances even caught the eye of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar just a day ago. However, as BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar explained, Nair fell short in the selection race due to the preference for players who have featured more regularly for the national team.