Let’s find out why BCCI doesn’t offer Sanju Samson as many opportunities as Rishabh Pant and others.
Without a doubt, Sanju Samson is the unluckiest Indian player of his generation. Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan have already kept Sanju Samson out of the Indian eleven in several games that Samson would have played otherwise, and this might be a recurring theme if Pant finally finds his form in limited-overs cricket for an extended period of time.
Sanju Samson has an impressive record, with an average of 21 and a strike rate of 135 in 16 T20I innings and an average of 66 and a strike rate of 104 in 10 ODI innings. His IPL numbers speak for themselves: 3526 runs, a strike rate of 135, 17 fifties, and three centuries.
Rishabh Pant, who debuted for India in 2017, has firmly established himself in the Test squad. However, the long rope Pant has gotten in white-ball cricket hasn’t gone down well with those advocating for Sanju Samson’s inclusion in India’s limited-overs sides.
Let’s Check Five Major Reasons Why BCCI Ignore Sanju Samson
1. Inconsistent Performance
Sanju Samson is well-known for his explosive batting and outstanding wicket-keeping abilities. However, his performances have been inconsistent, which may be a concern for the selectors.
Former India captain Kapil Dev was once ‘extremely upset’ with Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson, believing that given the talent the RR skipper possesses, his batting returns do not justify his salary.
“I am disappointed with Sanju Samson. He is so talented. He does well in one or two bouts and then disappears. When it comes to wicketkeepers, they all look the same. But if you talk about being the better hitter, on a given day, all four can win you matches,” Kapil Dev
The captain of the Rajasthan Royals has a lot of promise, but he has never been able to capitalise on any opportunities he has had with the Indian side, and he needs to break this pattern immediately.
2. Tough Competition
There are many great cricketers in India, and the fight for a spot on the national squad is fierce. Other players may consistently outperform Sanju Samson, making it more difficult for him to earn a starting spot.
Samson also confessed that making the national squad is challenging with so much competition. The 27-year-old stated that he is concentrating on himself rather than on things out of his control. He also stated that he has trained himself to bat at any position, from the top order to the middle order, and believes that flexibility is the key to success.
3. Lack of Experience
Sanju Samson has only played in a few matches for India, which could work against him in the selection process. The BCCI may prefer more experienced players with a track record of success.
Sanju Samson’s failure to score runs regularly was clear even in the IPL, as he would frequently make a couple of superb knocks but had too little business in the remaining reason. Despite having a wealth of domestic experience, Samson was unable to apply it at the highest level.
4. Favoritism By BCCI
Is BCCI doing any sort of politics or favoritism? Well, it’s hard to say but according to Minister V Sivankutty who has criticized BCCI for doing dirty politics. ‘We lost the World Cup due to the selectors’ bias and the quota system.’ Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant were chosen for the wicketkeeper-batsman position over Malayali player Sanju Samson, who was in good form, but they couldn’t even reach double figures, said Sivankutty on India’s World Cup defeat.
The minister also criticized the fact that Rishabh Pant, who has been out of form for the majority of the season, is still given preference over Sanju Samson.
5. Unfair Treatment
Sanju Samson has been the subject of numerous debates in cricketing circles across the country for not being given enough opportunities to demonstrate his talent and cement a permanent spot in the national squad. Sanju also took advantage of the opportunities that came his way in the IPL to stay in the national spotlight, but game observers found the Indian Team’s approach to be appalling and stated that it was high time Sanju had a long run at the international level to prove himself.
The banners that appeared in Qatar’s football stadiums in support of Sanju are not the result of narrow or regional thinking; They represent the fury of the game’s supporters at the harsh treatment meted out to this outstanding cricketer.