Agarkar’s Justification for Samson’s ODI Exclusion Raises Questions

The Indian cricket fraternity was left puzzled when chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour, with Sanju Samson notably absent despite his impressive track record. While much attention focused on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy change in favor of Shubman Gill, Samson’s exclusion has raised significant questions about selection consistency.

Samson last represented India in ODIs during December 2023 against South Africa in Paarl, where he scored a memorable maiden international century with 108 runs. His match-winning performance helped India secure the series decider by 78 runs under KL Rahul’s captaincy, showcasing his capability at the highest level.

Selection Pattern Raises Eyebrows

Instead of recalling Samson, the selectors handed Dhruv Jurel a maiden ODI call-up as backup wicketkeeper to Rishabh Pant. This decision appears contradictory considering Samson’s proven ODI credentials and recent century. Since Samson’s last appearance, India has completed only three ODI assignments—Sri Lanka tour in August 2024, home series against England, and the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Limited Opportunities Despite Performance

Throughout these 11 ODI matches across three series, KL Rahul remained India’s primary wicketkeeper-batsman, while Rishabh Pant, returning from a car accident hiatus, featured in just one game despite being selected for all three assignments. This raises questions about whether Samson is being evaluated fairly given his last outing ended with a century.

The selection approach suggests a disconnect between performance and opportunities, leaving fans and experts questioning the rationale behind overlooking a proven match-winner.