Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shared his views on India's decision to select Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the squads for both the ODI series against England at home and and for the future ICC champion. The 2025 trophy.
On Saturday, January 18, the Indian selectors surprised many with some of their bold but unexpected calls, including the trickery of Mohammed Siraj, the elevation of Shubman Gill as vice-captain and the exclusion of Sanju Samson for both the England series and the tour Eight-nation ICC.
Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Rishabh Pant's selection over Sanju Samson for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The Indian coach made the tough call on Samson despite his impressive performance in T20 cricket in 2024, which included two centuries against South Africa and one against Bangladesh. Even Samson's numbers in ODI cricket look stronger, averaging 56.66 to Pant's 33.50.
But with just 16 ODIs under his belt, Samson's limited experience could have played a role in the selection of Pant, who has proven his ability to swing momentum in crucial matches. Reports claim that the Indian player's refusal to play in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy played a key role in his exclusion from the 2025 Champions Trophy squad.
However, the former Indian captain felt it was the strategic decision to go ahead with Rishabh Pant over Samson. Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that Rishabh Pant's left-handed batting and exceptional wicket-keeping skills are the main reasons behind the selectors' decision to leave Sanju Samson out for the upcoming prestigious tournament.
Sanju Samson need not feel dejected: Sunil Gavaskar
However, the legendary Indian cricketer acknowledged Samson's achievements and said he had the sympathy of the entire nation for his snub, but advised the talented wicketkeeper-batsman to stay positive and use this setback as motivation for future opportunities.
Sunil Gavaskar was quoted by India Today as saying, “Very tough because the man scored hundreds and hundreds of runs. There is no excuse for leaving it out. But he was pitted against Rishabh Pant who we all know can be a game changer. Also, Rishabh Pant is left-handed and is probably the best wicketkeeper, though he might not be the best batsman than Samson. Pant can change the game maybe a bit more than Samson and that is why Samson missed out. But Samson need not feel dejected as all Indian cricket lovers will have sympathy for him for what he has achieved.”
Shashi Tharoor slams KCA for making false allegations against Sanju Samson
Recently, Kerala politician Shashi Tharoor criticized the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for their false allegations regarding Samson's refusal to play in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy preparatory camp.
Notably, the KCA said that they withdrew Sanju from the VHT squad due to his refusal to attend the camp and this eventually led to the Indian cricketer losing his place in the Indian cricket team for the next event.
Shashi Tharoor posted on X: “Unfortunate saga of Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson — the player had written to KCA in advance regretting his inability to attend a training camp between the SMA and Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments and was prompt. dropped from the squad — has now led to Sanju's exclusion from the Indian team.
A top-scoring batsman of 212* in Hazare, who averages 56.66 in ODIs for India (including a century in his last outing, against South Africa) has his career ruined by the egos of the administrators cricket. Doesn't it bother the KCA bosses that by leaving Sanju out, they ensured that Kerala didn't even make it to the quarter-finals at Hazare? Where does that leave him?”
The sorry saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson — the player had previously written to the KCA regretting his inability to attend a training camp between the SMA and Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments and was promptly dropped from the squad — has now resulted in…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 18, 2025