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Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif spoke about his pick for the wicketkeeper for Team India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that Sanju Samson should be picked ahead of Rishabh Pant, as he feels the former has gone ahead of the southpaw.
India’s national cricket team for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be announced on Saturday (January 18). One of the things that has kept many confused is who will be the team’s goalkeeper in the tournament.
KL Rahul, who played ICC World Cup 2023 as a wicketkeeper, is all set to play a specialist batsman. Reports claimed that Rishabh Pant is all set to be the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper, while the names of Samson and Dhruv Jurel are too much in consideration.
The battle is most likely to be between Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson for the spot. While the left-hander averages 33.50 in 31 ODIs, Samson has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.66 and has been in excellent white-ball form.
I think Sanju Samson has gone ahead of Rishabh Pant – Mohammad Kaif
According to Mohammad Kaif, Samson is superior to Rishabh Pant and while admitting that there are emotions attached to the left-hander, he said that the right-hander has become consistent. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:
“Sanju Samson has come on. You have to understand that. With Rishabh Pant, people have their emotions attached. He is a great Test winner. Who can forget his knock at the Gabba and the hundred in South Africa? He has a good performance in foreign conditions.Rishabh Pant is a better wicketkeeper than MS Dhoni.
“However, in terms of batting, I think Sanju Samson has gone past Rishabh Pant. He has been batting incredibly well. He smashed centuries for fun in South Africa, hitting more sixes than fours. He has the ability of hitting six. It’s become constant.”
He has reached that level where he needs to be kept with KL Rahul in the Champions Trophy squad – Mohammad Kaif to Sanju Samson
Mohammad Kaif said that Samson had the best year of his international career and claimed that now is the time for the team management to fully support him. He highlighted the right-hander’s composure, saying he has to be there with KL Rahul. He added:
“Sanju made his debut in 2015 in T20Is in Harare, and his second match came in 2020. In 2024, he had the best year of his career. Sometimes you make him open, and sometimes you make him bat in the middle order.He never had a permanent place.He has seen a lot of ups and downs but we have never backed him completely, I think Sanju Samson has been way ahead of Rishabh Pant.
“Sanju Samson is a relaxed batsman. He has benefited from leading in the IPL. He has reached that level where he needs to be kept with KL Rahul in the Champions Trophy squad.”
Someone needs to tell him his white ball stats aren’t great – Mohammad Kaif to Rishabh Pant
Mohammad Kaif concluded by saying that Rishabh Pant needs to be told that his white ball stats are not as great as his red ball form. He stressed that the batsman needs to work hard as Samson has earned the right to be picked for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said:
“Rishabh Pant needs to face the reality. If someone tells him ‘wrong things are being done to you’, he is not saying the right things. Rishabh Pant should stay away from these friends. Someone needs to tell him that his white ball stats are not that good. Sanju Samson has really earned this opportunity to go to the Champions Trophy. Rishabh Pant has to work hard.”
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