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Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has shared his views on India’s decision to select Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the squads for both the ODI series against England at home as for the upcoming ICC champions. Trophy 2025.
On Saturday, January 18, the Indian selectors surprised many with some of their bold but unexpected calls, including the axing of Mohammed Siraj, the elevation of Shubman Gill as vice-captain and the exclusion of Sanju Samson for both the England series as for the ICC eight-nation tournament.
Sunil Gavaskar reacts to Rishabh Pant’s selection over Sanju Samson for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The Indian coach took the tough call from Samson despite his impressive performance in T20 cricket in 2024, which included two centuries against South Africa and one against Bangladesh. Even Samson’s numbers in ODI cricket look stronger, averaging 56.66 compared to Pant’s 33.50.
But with just 16 ODIs under his belt, Samson’s limited experience may have played a role in the selection of Pant, who has shown an ability to swing momentum in crucial matches. Reports claimed that the Indian batsman’s refusal to play in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy played a key role in his exclusion from the 2025 Champions Trophy squad.
However, the former Indian captain felt it was the strategic decision to go ahead with Rishabh Pant over Samson. Sunil Gavaskar has pointed out Rishabh Pant’s left-handed batting and exceptional wicketkeeping skills as the main reasons behind the selectors’ decision to drop Sanju Samson for the upcoming prestigious tournament.
Sanju Samson should not feel down: Sunil Gavaskar
However, the legendary Indian cricketer acknowledged Samson’s achievements and said he has the entire nation’s sympathy for his resentment, but advised the talented wicketkeeper-batsman to stay positive and use this setback as motivation for future opportunities.
Sunil Gavaskar was quoted by India Today: “Very tough because the man has been scoring hundreds and hundreds of runs. There is no excuse to leave him out. But he was up against Rishabh Pant who we all know can change the game.Also, Rishabh Pant is a left-hander, and is probably the best wicket-taker, though he may not be the best batsman than Samson. Pant can change the game a bit more than Samson, and that’s why Samson goes lose. But Samson should not feel dejected because all Indian cricket lovers will have sympathy for him for what he has achieved.”
Shashi Tharoor slams KCA over false allegations against Sanju Samson
Kerala politician Shashi Tharoor has recently criticized the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for its false allegations regarding Samson’s refusal to play in the preparatory camp for the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Notably, KCA reportedly said that they dropped Sanju from the VHT team due to his refusal to attend the camp and this eventually led to the Indian cricketer losing his place in the Indian cricket team for the next event.
Shashi Tharoor posted on X: “The sad saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson: The player wrote to KCA in advance, regretting his inability to attend a training camp between the SMA and the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments, and was quickly dropped from the squad, has now led to Sanju’s exclusion from the Indian team.
A top-scoring batsman of 212* Hazare, who averages 56.66 in ODIs for India (including a century in his last outing, against South Africa) is seeing his career destroyed by the egos of cricket administrators. Doesn’t it bother the KCA bosses that by leaving out Sanju, they ensured that Kerala didn’t even reach the quarter-finals under Hazare? Where does that leave him?”
The unfortunate saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson — the player wrote to KCA in advance, lamenting his inability to attend a training camp between the SMA and the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments, and was quickly removed from the squad– it has now resulted in…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 18, 2025
