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'I Am Surprised and Worried...': Aakash Chopra on Samson’s Omission from ODI Squad

image-lmrgu6z3Samson has been ignored for the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games. (X.com)

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra expressed surprise and concern regarding the treatment of wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson by the selectors. Chopra found Samson's exclusion from both the Indian squad for the home series against Australia and the Asian Games squad inexplicable.

Despite being in contention for the World Cup squad, Samson was omitted from both teams, which Chopra found puzzling. He suggested that Samson should have been part of the Asian Games squad to gain valuable playing experience. Chopra also mentioned the possibility of Ishan Kishan playing in the middle order while Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad open in the absence of Samson.

“I am surprised and worried because Sanju Samson is not in the Asian Games team. He was in the Asia Cup [as a reserve], but now he is not in the team for the series against Australia as well. What I feel now is that Ishan Kishan won’t be seen opening. Shubman Gill will open with Ruturaj Gaikwad. Ishan Kishan will play in the middle order and the management will give him enough chances so that he can cement his place there. 

I feel Sanju Samson’s name should be there in the Asian Games squad. Let him play somewhere. He can’t come into the World Cup squad, but to think that he is not good enough to play the Asian Games, that’s not right. He came very close to making the World Cup squad, so he definitely should have been in the Asian Games team. In fact, he could have been the captain as well,”  said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.

After making his ODI debut in 2021, Samson has only featured in 13 out of India's 45 ODI matches. Still, he holds an average of over 55.71 in the 12 ODI innings he has played for India.

Despite having a stellar record, Samson finds himself absent from both the World Cup and Asian Games squads. Additionally, he has been left out of the squad scheduled to participate in a three-match ODI series preceding the ODI World Cup.