Aakash Chopra questions Sanju Samson’s continued ODI exclusion

Chopra says Samson’s ODI numbers merit another chance

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has questioned Sanju Samson’s continued absence from the ODI squad, saying the wicketkeeper-batter’s record in the format deserved consideration for the final two matches against New Zealand.

Chopra pointed out that other wicketkeeper-batters KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel were also not selected for those games, while Ishan Kishan was named vice-captain. Samson, he said, had nevertheless been overlooked despite scoring well in his last ODI appearance.

“Sanju’s ODI numbers are not that bad. He did well the last time he played,” Chopra said. He added that leaving Samson out even when Kumar Kushagra was retained suggested the selectors might have made up their minds about Samson’s future in ODI cricket.

Samson has scored 510 runs in 14 ODI innings at an average of 56.67, according to the figures cited in the report. His most recent ODI was against South Africa in Paarl in December 2023, where he made 108 from 114 balls in India’s 78-run win.

Chopra points to Samson’s T20I returns

Chopra also compared the players’ returns across their last 20 T20I innings. Samson had scored 657 runs, including seven half-centuries, at an average of 34.57 and a strike rate of 183.51. Ishan Kishan had 625 runs at 36.76 and a strike rate of 152.06, while Abhishek Sharma had 584 runs, including four half-centuries and a century, at 29.20 and a strike rate of 200.

“The truth is that Sanju Samson has scored the most runs among them. Yet, he seems to have a lifetime subscription to pressure,” Chopra said, arguing that Samson continued to face scrutiny even when his run tally compared favourably with those of his peers.

The report also recalls earlier selection debates around Samson. After his place came under question ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series, he scored half-centuries in the second and third matches. In the West Indies T20I series described in the report, he followed a low score in the opener with 82 in the second match and finished with 168 runs at a strike rate of 193.35, including two half-centuries.