On the recent Sri Lanka tour, Sanju Samson was left out of the ODI squad, while Rishabh Pant secured a spot in both the ODI and T20 formats. This decision has sparked discussions among fans and experts alike, questioning the criteria behind such selections. The reason for this decision lies in a crucial meeting held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), where Pant emerged as the preferred choice for wicketkeeping duties.
When the BCCI announced the squads for the T20 and ODI series, several eyebrows were raised, particularly regarding the selection criteria. For instance, players who performed exceptionally well in ODIs were omitted from the same format. This list included Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Despite scoring a century in his last ODI, Samson was excluded from the ODI squad. Similarly, Abhishek and Gaikwad, who had impressed in the recent Zimbabwe T20 series, were dropped from the T20 squad.
The recent BCCI meeting deliberated extensively on whether to select Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant for the ODI squad. With KL Rahul’s impressive performance as a wicketkeeper in the ODI World Cup, the choice was challenging. Despite his recent century, Samson was left out, and the reasons are now coming to light.
Rohit Sharma’s Influence:
According to a source within the BCCI, Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in this decision. During the BCCI meeting, Rohit advocated for Rishabh Pant to be the wicketkeeper for the ODIs. This endorsement tipped the scales in Pant’s favor, leading to Samson’s exclusion from the ODI squad, although he was included in the T20 squad.
The Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour was announced on Thursday, July 18. The BCCI conducted a two-day meeting, with online sessions held on July 17 and 18. Key attendees included Indian T20 World Cup captain Rohit Sharma, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, and the new head coach Gautam Gambhir. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah also participated in the meeting on July 17 but was absent on July 18 when the team announcement was made. Shah emphasized that the selectors would have the final say in team selection.
Chief Selector’s Clarification:
Ajit Agarkar, the Chief Selector, clarified the situation during a press conference on July 22. He highlighted KL Rahul’s form in the ODI World Cup 2023 as a critical factor. Regarding Samson, Agarkar mentioned that it was unfortunate that someone had to be left out. He also noted that both Rahul and Pant need to perform consistently, as there are other capable players ready to step in. Agarkar expressed confidence that Pant, who has only played T20s since his accident, would perform well in ODIs.
Political Reactions:
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also questioned Samson’s exclusion, especially after his stellar performance against South Africa in his last ODI on December 21, 2023. Tharoor’s comments added to the growing discourse on the selection process.
KL Rahul’s Recent Performance:
KL Rahul’s recent ODI performance includes playing against South Africa in December 2023, where he captained the Indian team to a 2-1 series victory, scoring 77 runs in three matches. Rahul also performed well in IPL 2024, finishing as the seventh-highest run-scorer with 520 runs at an average of 37.14 and a strike rate of 136.12.
In the last ODI World Cup, Rahul played 10 innings in 11 matches, amassing 452 runs with an average of 75.33 and a strike rate of 90.76, including a century and two half-centuries.
Player Statistics:
KL Rahul:
- Tests: 50 matches, 2863 runs, Avg. 34.08, SR 52.23, 62 catches
- ODIs: 75 matches, 2820 runs, Avg. 50.35, SR 87.82, 62 catches, 5 stumpings
- T20Is: 72 matches, 2265 runs, Avg. 37.75, SR 139.12, 23 catches, 1 stumping
Sanju Samson:
- ODIs: 16 matches, 510 runs, Avg. 56.66, SR 99.60, 9 catches, 2 stumpings
- T20Is: 28 matches, 444 runs, Avg. 21.14, SR 133.33, 16 catches, 4 stumpings
Rishabh Pant:
- Tests: 33 matches, 2271 runs, Avg. 43.67, 119 catches, 14 stumpings
- ODIs: 30 matches, 865 runs, Avg. 34.60, SR 106.65, 26 catches, 1 stumping
- T20Is: 74 matches, 1158 runs, Avg. 22.70, SR 126.55, 40 catches, 10 stumping
