The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently released the men’s team squads for the forthcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, set to commence next week in Pallekele. While the announcement included many expected selections, there were notable surprises, particularly in the areas of leadership and backup roles. This period marks a crucial phase, as the team embarks on preparing for the future in T20Is and the Champions Trophy in 2025 in ODIs.
In a significant twist, players like Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar, and Sanju Samson didn’t find a place in the ODI squad, leading to widespread discussions and debates. While it was anticipated that Gaikwad would be selected for the T20Is owing to his commendable performances at No. 3 and 4 during the Zimbabwe series, he was unexpectedly excluded from both squads. Mukesh Kumar, fresh off an impressive four-wicket haul in the final T20I of the same series, was also overlooked.
Sanju Samson’s situation has stirred the most considerable reaction. Despite his consistency and noteworthy performances, including a century in the last one-day international against South Africa in December 2023, Samson was not retained for the ODIs. Although he retained his position in the T20Is as the secondary wicketkeeper behind Rishabh Pant, his exclusion from the ODIs surprised and disappointed many.
Abhishek Sharma, who delivered a brilliant century in the series against Zimbabwe, suffered the same fate, with his name missing from both the T20I and ODI squads.
Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh voiced his dismay over Samson’s exclusion, reflecting the sentiments of many fans and experts. According to Ganesh, despite producing solid performances and scoring runs consistently, Samson has frequently been overlooked. He commented particularly on the ODIs this time, echoing frustrations similar to those surrounding Samson’s benching throughout the T20 World Cup.
Ganesh expressed his bewilderment over the inclusion of Shivam Dube at Samson’s expense, stating, “Shivam Dube in place of Sanju Samson in the ODIs is ridiculous. Poor Sanju scored a century in his last series against South Africa. Why him always? My heart goes out to this young man,” he tweeted on X (formerly Twitter).
. Like Ganesh, numerous fans were heartbroken over Samson’s snub, arguing that the label of ‘inconsistency,’ often applied to justify his exclusion, no longer holds water.
The narrative around Samson’s career has been one of perseverance against odds, frequently demonstrating his calibre under pressure. Yet, the recurring theme of him being left out, despite proven track records, remains a point of contention among cricket enthusiasts.
Adding context to the selections, BCCI’s decisions reflect a strategy of combining experienced players with emerging talents to balance current performance with future preparedness. This period of team building is part of broader preparations for upcoming major tournaments, including the Champions Trophy in 2025.
However, these strategic selections come at the cost of disappointing some players and their supporters. The debate around Samson becomes part of a larger discussion about the criteria used for selections and the transparency of the processes behind them.
Fans frequently voice frustrations on social media platforms, raising questions about fairness and the future path for players like Samson, who consistently show promise but remain on the periphery of major selections. The emotional investment and support from the fans continue to underscore the immense pressure on both players and selectors in such high-stakes environments.
In related news, the announced squads feature notable inclusions and leadership roles: Rohit Sharma captains the ODI squad, with Shubman Gill named vice-captain. Key players include stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, reinforcing a blend of experience and youth. Meanwhile, in the T20I squad, Suryakumar Yadav steps up as captain, highlighting a possible shift towards nurturing leadership potential among emerging players.
Amid these changes, the focus remains steadfast on team cohesion and strategic preparation for imminent international fixtures, acknowledging that each selection and omission carries significant weight within the cricketing community.
India’s ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series includes: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, and Harshit Rana. This ensemble marks a considerable effort to balance seasoned campaigners with promising talent.
As the series against Sri Lanka approaches, all eyes will be on how the selected squads perform under pressure, and whether decisions regarding selections will be vindicated on the field.
