I'm unavailable: Sanju Sanmson's one line text cost him Champions Trophy spot?
By : DC Web Desk
Update: 2025-01-19 07:47 GMT
India star wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson, was trending on social media platforms right after his exclusion from India's Champions Trophy squad. His exclusion also became a talking point during the Press Conference of captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
However, not only the Champions Trophy, the right-handed batsman was also snubbed from the Kerala squad for the 'Vijay Hazare Trophy'. His missing from the key domestic tournament might've also impacted the Champions Trophy decision.
Talking to Onemedia, Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president Jayesh George revealed interesting facts about why Samson was not picked for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Slamming the 30-year-old player, George said that Samson sent a one-line text stating his unavailability for the preparatory camp in Wayanad ahead of the tournament.
KCA then went ahead without naming him in the squad. Samson sent a message again after the announcement saying he is available.
"KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected. We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad but Kerala team is not the one that he can come and represent only when he feels like," George said. He also revealed that Samson was the front-runner to lead the state team in the tournament before the text.
However, he dismissed the theory that the Rajasthan Royals captain's Champions Trophy rebuff was due to his absence in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson did find a spot in the 15-member India squad for the T20Is series against England.
India squad for England T20Is:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel