Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa has opened up on Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka. Samson could not find a place in the squad despite scoring 108 runs off 114 balls in the last ODI he played against South Africa while playing away.

Furthermore, Samson showed he is in good form as he scored 58 runs off 45 balls in the fifth T20I against Zimbabwe in the recently concluded series, which India won by 4-1. Samson was also part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad but could not get a game for the team as Rishabh Pant was preferred as the first-choice keeper.

Samson has scored 510 runs in 16 ODI matches at an impressive average of 56.67 and a strike rate of 99.61.

“From Sanju’s perspective, this is not the first time he has gone through it? I don’t think it will be the last time he will go through it as a player, but Sanju’s one-day numbers have been quite incredible. I think, again, with changes in leadership group or changes within the leadership group. Things have to kind of settle down a little bit and we as fans and supporters of the Indian cricket team have to give that space to kind of settle down as well,” Uthappa said in a virtual interaction organised by the Sony Sports Network.

The former Indian opener added that Samson is not out of contention for the ODI squad and it is a matter of time before he gets his chance, which he will need to grab with both hands.

“So, I think Sanju is not out of contention as with any other player. I think. It’s a matter of time, and he will get his opportunity, but when the opportunities do come, he will have to grab those opportunities to make sure he steps up with solid performances that keep him in the running.”

India will play the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday.