The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI has announced the squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia, marking the much-anticipated return of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who last represented India during the Champions Trophy earlier this year. While the announcement brought excitement for fans, one significant development caught attention: Sanju Samson has been dropped from India's ODI squad.
Why Was Sanju Samson Dropped?Sanju Samson, the talented wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala, has been one of India's most promising limited-overs players. In 16 ODI appearances, Samson has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.66 with a strike rate of 99.60, including one century and three fifties. His last outing in the 50-over format came in 2023 against South Africa, where he scored a match-winning 108 off 114 balls, helping India clinch the series 2-1.
Despite these impressive stats, Samson has been left out of the ODI squad in favor of Dhruv Jurel, a young wicketkeeper who impressed in the Test format, scoring a brilliant century against the West Indies in the first Test. With Rishabh Pant sidelined due to injury, many expected Samson to step in as the second wicketkeeper for the ODIs. However, the selection panel, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, opted to give Jurel the opportunity in the 50-over format.