India vs Australia 2023

“Sanju ko na leke, selectors ne apni aukat dikhaadi”- Fans react as selectors leave Sanju Samson out of squad for Australia T20Is

Ishan Kishan has been preferred to Sanju Samson.

Nov 21, 2023 11:33 am

The Indian Cricket Board has unveiled a 15-member squad that will take on Australia in a five-match T20 International (T20I) series commencing on Thursday, November 23 in Visakhapatnam. Suryakumar Yadav has been entrusted with the captaincy, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will assume the role of vice-captain for the first three matches. Following an extensive World Cup campaign, Shreyas Iyer has been rested for the initial three games but will make a return for the final two matches, also claiming the vice-captaincy from Gaikwad.

Building up to the Asia Cup, India faced Ireland in an away series, and most of the players who participated in that series have been selected for the T20s against Australia. However, Jasprit Bumrah, like Shreyas Iyer, has been granted a well-deserved rest following the World Cup.

Axar Patel, who missed out on the World Cup also returns to the international scene. Meanwhile, VVS Laxman will handle the coaching duties as the incumbent coach, Rahul Dravid’s tenure has expired. It remains to be seen if a fresh contract will be signed between the board and Dravid following a successful World Cup campaign in which India agonizingly fell short of the goal.

Sanju Samson’s omission was the most notable factor

The selection of the squad has generated debate, with the notable absence of Sanju Samson. Samson was part of the contingent that toured Ireland but has been overlooked in favour of the dynamic left-hander, Ishan Kishan. This omission marks an unfortunate chapter in Samson’s career, he has only participated in 37 international matches since his debut in 2015. During this time, numerous players have been given preference over him, and this trend appears to be persisting.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Shreyas Iyer (4th and 5th T20Is)

Here, we look at how ‘X-verse’ reacted to Samson’s latest omission:

Well and truly deserved a spot but robbed again.

Sanju Samson should have been the part of T20Is.

— Yogesh (@yogeshontop) November 20, 2023

Share me his SMAT 2023 stats then write this tweet again.

— ᴘʀᴀᴛʜᴍᴇsʜ⁴⁵ (@45Fan_Prathmesh) November 20, 2023

Sanju Samson 💔- This guy is so inspiring, Never say something, Just pure talent.

— BharatCricket (@BharatEcricket) November 20, 2023

Justice for Sanju Samson💔

How can they sit the players like him? What wrong has he done?😖😖

— Manu (@virat_facts) November 20, 2023

It seems Sanju and a few others are ignored for non cricketing reasons. Plain simple. Bias and grudge in full flow!!!

— Ramkrishna Iyer (@KannanK51531500) November 21, 2023

So it's clear that he is not in the contention of world cup 2024. Look like his dream of playing in the world cup never going to be complete..

— Kirkett (@bhaskar_sanu08) November 21, 2023

Not really… Sanju hasn't performed…any other player could have done way better if looked upon the way snaju is..

— mudassir jabbar (@crick_frik) November 20, 2023