The former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh explained Sanju Samson’s absence from India’s squad in the Australia ODIs and the Cricket World Cup 2023. However, Sanju Samson’s omission from the Indian cricket team for the ODI series against Australia and the 2023 Cricket World Cup has taken both fans and experts by surprise. Several former cricketers expressed disappointment with the team management’s decision.
However, the former India spinner believes that Sanju was left out to maintain a consistent team composition with the World Cup squad. In a video on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan called this decision ‘peculiar’ and shared his analysis behind it.
“Sanju Samson’s exclusion has sparked debates. When you have an ODI average of 55 and still aren’t in the squad, that’s certainly unusual. But I believe Sanju wasn’t picked because India already had two wicketkeepers, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan, who are also part of the World Cup squad,” he explained.
“I believe Sanju wasn’t picked because India already had two wicketkeepers” – Harbhajan Singh
“If I had to choose between KL Rahul and Sanju Samson, I would opt for Rahul because of the stability he brings at No. 4 and No. 5. While Samson is a talented player who can hit sixes at will, the current situation doesn’t allow for three wicketkeeper-batsmen in the team. Fielding all of them in the XI would be challenging,” Harbhajan added.
The Indian cricket team has selected KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as their wicket-keeping choices for the World Cup. These two players have been playing together for several weeks, and the team management is backing them to provide solidity to India’s middle order.
As for Samson, who isn’t part of India’s Asian Games squad either, he will need to put in significant effort if he hopes to return to the team in the coming months.
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