Sanju Samson’s anticipated return to India’s white-ball team sparked various responses online. The leader of the Rajasthan Royals was chosen for India’s three ODI games in South Africa. However, he was not invited to the preceding three T20Is.
Some cheered his new role, others found it ironic. After missing the Men’s 2023 ODI World Cup, he got called up. Just as India readies for the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024.
Just as we gear up for the 2023 World Cup, he joined India’s T20I groups for few games but found no place in the ODI Asia Cup. Instead, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan made the cut. One fan stated via a meme:
“Sanju Samson right now: Mujhe yakeen nahi aa raha meri selection hogayi hai (I can’t believe I have been selected)”
Check out the finest reactions to the situation below:
Aakash Chopra questions Sanju Samson’s exclusion from Australia T20Is
Sanju Samson was also left out of India’s selection for the present T20I series against Australia, which sparked outrage on social media. At the time, cricketer-turned-pundit Aakash Chopra said that selecting Jitesh Sharma over the Kerala-born was a “huge statement” from the selectors based on IPL quality.
“His lifesize poster will be made but he won’t be there. The entire stadium will sing – ‘We miss you Sanju Samson’. I have started feeling that they are not thinking about him because he opens or plays at No. 3 in the IPL and they don’t have a place for him there.”
Aakash Chopra
The first Twenty20 International between India and South Africa will be played on December 10 in Kingsmead.