Kerala wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson produced a superb 101 off 95 deliveries against Jharkhand in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday (January 3). While chasing a stiff target of 312, Samson opened the batting with skipper Rohan Kunnummal, who blazed his way to 124 off just 78 balls. The pair stitched together a commanding 212-run opening partnership.
The century marked Samson’s return to List-A cricket after a two-year gap. Earlier, News18 had reported that contrary to speculation in Kerala, Samson was always slated to feature in the VHT this season, following a BCCI directive that granted him and other members of the 2026 T20 World Cup core group permission to play only the latter stages of the tournament.
The knock could hardly have come at a better moment. Samson delivered the performance on the very day the BCCI is expected to announce India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Reports suggest that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and key stakeholders are scheduled to meet virtually on Saturday, with the wicketkeeper’s slot emerging as one of the most closely contested positions.
KL Rahul remains the undisputed first-choice option, but uncertainty surrounds the backup role. Rishabh Pant filled that position during the recent series against South Africa, though he saw very little game time. Reports have indicated that Ishan Kishan could edge ahead of Pant after scoring a fluent 125 from the middle order in one of Jharkhand’s earlier matches in the tournament.
Kishan Falters As Samson Emerges As Wicketkeeper Contender
In the game against Kerala, Kishan could manage only a run-a-ball 21 while batting at No. 5. Samson, who scored a century from the No. 3 position in his previous ODI against South Africa, could emerge as another contender for the spot. That said, his usual batting position may work against him.
Unlike in T20Is, where Rahul is now India’s first-choice opener and wicketkeeper, he occupies a middle-order role in ODIs, meaning his understudy must also be comfortable batting there. Pant further bolstered his claims on Saturday with an unbeaten 67 off just 37 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and six sixes, against Services.
As things stand, it could turn into a three-horse race among the wicketkeepers, all pushing for a place in the ODI squad, not only for the upcoming series but also with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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