Sanju Samson's absent from India's 15-man squad about Champions Trophy 2025 has created a huge controversy in the cricket community. Despite his impressive form, he scored three centuries in his last five T20Is and registered more tons in his recent ODIs against. South Africa in December 2024, Samson found himself neglected by his chosen ones.
Shashi Tharoor criticizes KCA's mismanagement
Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, publicly condemned it Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for not taking good care of Samson's case, criticizing their strict laws that removed him. Samson informed KCA in advance of his absence from the team's training camp. But the KCA followed their order for the players to go to these camps which resulted in Samson not joining the team. Tharoor also said that Samson's exclusion from the team was due to his non-participation Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024where Kerala failed to reach the quarter-finals.
“Kerala Cricket Association's sad saga with Sanju Samson – the player wrote to the KCA in advance, regretting that he could not attend the training camp between the SMA and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and was dropped from the team – has now led to Sanju's removal from the Indian team,” Tharoor wrote on social media
Tharoor pointed out how KCA's lack of vision and bravery has now led to Kerala's decline in cricket, and Samson's exclusion from the main ODI tournament. Tharoor raised the right questions, asking if it was right for the KCA to punish a player of Samson's caliber because of differences in management.
“Hazare's 212* batsman, who averages 56.66 in ODIs for India (including a century in his last match, against South Africa) has had his career destroyed by the arrogance of cricket management. Doesn't it bother the KCA bosses that by leaving Sanju out, they ensured that Kerala didn't even reach the quarter-finals for Hazare? Where does this leave him? Tharoor concluded.
The sad saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson – the player wrote to the KCA in advance, regretting that he could not attend the training camp between the SMA tournament and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and was quickly removed from the team – is now over. in…
– Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 18, 2025
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Sanju Samson's latest look is what he has done
Samson, who has led Kerala in various domestic tournaments, has been in good form recently. He led Kerala in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024where his team won four out of six matches but narrowly missed out on victory. Samson also scored two centuries during India's T20I tour of South Africa in November 2024, showing that his short form remains formidable.
His consistent performances in ODIs and T20Is have kept him on the selectors' radar, but his lack of participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy ultimately cost him a place in the Champions Trophy. Despite his impressive record, including his age in the final ODI against South Africa and his stellar performances in domestic tournaments, the management leaned in selecting Rishabh Pant, who featured prominently in the T20 World Cup 2024, instead of Samson.
Samson's future is with the Indian team
While Samson is still in the Indian T20I squad for the match Upcoming five matches against Englandsince January 22 in Kolkata, his exclusion from the Champions Trophy shows that he is in danger. they solve the problem and give him a chance to succeed.