The BCCI selection committee announced an 18 member squad for the T20 series against South Africa. The T20I series would start from 9th June which would consist of 5 T20I matches. The biggest talking point about the squad announced was the exclusion of Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson in the T20I squad.
Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson have been in brilliant form in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League. Both of them have played several impactful cameos for their team. Rahul and Sanju are the proper intent merchants in the middle order.
Tripathi has scored 413 runs at an amazing average of 37 and a mind-blowing strike rate of 158 in IPL 2022. While Samson has scored 374 runs at an average of 29 and great Strike rate of 147 in IPL 2022. These numbers are too great to not get selected for the Indian T20I team.
Fans criticised the selectors for ignoring both these batters who bat in the way modern T20 cricket demands. Cricket fans also raised questions over the selection of Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Indian T20I team despite having a bad IPL 2022 season. Here are top twitter reactions where fans expressed their dissatisfaction over the exclusion of Tripathi and Samson :
Disappointed to not see Rahul Tripathi’s name in the squad. He deserved a chance.
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 22, 2022
There was room for both Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi in the T20I squad ahead of as many as three players imo. But they got overlooked as usual. Samson should have been there at least, if not Tripathi. It's not like they are one season wonder after all. #INDvSA
— Prasenjiit Dey (@CricPrasen) May 22, 2022
Feel for Rahul Tripathi. Has been a consistent run scorer in the IPL for last few seasons and has done no wrong to deserve a call when seniors are resting. Hopefully he'll be there for the Ireland tour. Sanju Samson the other one who deserved an opportunity too.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 22, 2022
Why Indian team management is not giving a breather to guys like Rahul and Pant is beyond me…Could have easily played Sanju and Rahul Tripathi in matches against South Africa and had Rahul and Pant set for England..
Looking at Pant he badly needs a break! https://t.co/BJgSn0Jo9o
— Gagan Chawla (@toecrushrzzz) May 22, 2022
One season wonders Ruturaj and Ishan have place but not Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson who have consistent for so many years!!
NEW ERA⁉️
I DOUBT THAT!!!#CricketTwitter#INDvSA— Muskan (@muskan401) May 22, 2022
Feel for Rahul Tripathi. That guy did really well in IPL & in domestic cricket and even this IPL season he is the best batsman for SRH but unfortunately he could not make it to indian team. But don't disappoint champ, keep working hard, you will definitely get a chance next time. pic.twitter.com/nTuMaaDdhp
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) May 22, 2022
Feel for Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson, both deserve to be part of the T20 setup. Two of them have been showing very good consistency with healthy strike rate in IPL in the last few years – hoping both will be part of the Ireland T20 series.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 22, 2022
Where is Rahul Tripathi? https://t.co/1EdjF1X6pV
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) May 22, 2022
BCCI has insulted all Punekars by not selecting Rahul Tripathi.
— Prithvi (@Puneite_) May 22, 2022
https://twitter.com/Adityakrsaha/status/1528363868719702016?s=20&t=TXIOcE97zjV3jKVwlXgm0w
KL Rahul to lead Indian T20I team against South Africa
Senior players Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for this T20I series keeping in mind the UK tour in July. KL Rahul would lead the Indian T20I team in absence of Rohit. While Rishabh Pant would be the vice captain. Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh got their maiden call for the Indian team. While Dinesh Karthik is making his comeback in the T20I squad.
India’s T20I squad vs South Africa: KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk),Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
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