Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth questioned the selectors for Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia. Samson has scored 510 runs in 16 ODIs at an impressive average of 56.67 and a strike rate of 99.61.
But his last ODI appearance came back in 2023 against South Africa when he scored a fine knock of 108 runs off 114 balls at the Boland Park, Paarl.
Srikkanth said the selectors keep changing their reasons for not including Samson in the ODI squad. Recently, the Kerala batter scored 132 runs in four innings of the Asia Cup at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 124.52 while batting in the middle order after vice-captain Shubman Gill opened with Abhishek Sharma.
India has picked Dhruv Jurel ahead of Samson in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who continues to recover from a toe injury.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Again very unfair. Sanju should have been there, considering he scored a century in his last ODI. So everyday the reason keeps changing for each individual. One day you make him bat at 5, then another day you make him open. Sometimes you send him at 7 or 8. How did Dhruv Jurel suddenly come in? Sanju may or may not feature in the 11 but he has to be given the first right of refusal.”
“By making such selections constantly, they are confusing the players themselves. Even we aren’t sure everyday what the selection will be. Suddenly, Yashasvi Jaiswal is there and then next minute he won’t be there. There is only one permanent member – Harshit Rana. Nobody knows why he is there in the team. By chopping and changing all the time, they’ll dent the confidence of the players.”
The 1983 World Cup-winning player questioned the selections of Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the white-ball squads.
“You don’t pick some irrespective if they do well and take others even if they don’t. Best is to be like Harshit Rana and be a constant yes-man to Gambhir to be selected. You should start building towards the 2027 World Cup. But I feel they’ve not. If you pick Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy among the probabilities, then you can wave goodbye to the trophy,” said Srikkanth.
The first ODI between India and Australia will be played on October 19.
