Gautam Gambhir was furious saying “It’s India’s fault, not Sanju’s fault”: The 15-man Indian team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 was revealed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday, September 12. Additionally, Sanju Samson, wicket-keeper batter, was not taken into account. He was also left from the United Arab Emirates team for the 2022 Asia Cup (UAE).
Samson isn’t even listed as a backup player for the Indian squad in the mega-event, which will start on October 16 in Australia. He last participated in a T20I during India’s tour to the West Indies.
Former Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir also came on to encourage Sanju Samson after he was left out of the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup.
Gambhir in a recent interview says that “Really, I think the only playing eleven he does not fit is India playing eleven, tell me if MS Dhoni have hit these kinds of sixes what would have happened? So, this is where the problem is what that exceptional talent and you know what if Sanju Samson does not want to play for India, it is not Sanju Samson’s loss it is actually India’s loss and I hope that Sanju Samson is backed the same way as Rohit Sharma has been backed and Virat Kohli has been backed.
He further went on to say that “India is losing out on a talent who probably will be a number batter in the world in the future if you back him but unfortunately, we haven’t backed him till now and people sitting in those big rooms or probably the selection committee should be scratching their head that why wasn’t Sanju Samson part of the T20 World Cup and in fact, I picked him as the no.4 batter in the last World as well.”
Samson looked impressive for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, amassing 458 runs in 17 games with a strike rate of 146.79. And considering that Rishabh Pant has been having trouble with his form with the bat in the T20 circuit, many supporters have also voiced their displeasure with the selection of Rishabh Pant.
With recent criticism for Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson stayed grounded and came to support his team by saying “There’s a lot of talks going on social that Sanju Samson should replace KL Rahul, Sanju should replace Rishabh Pant. My thinking is very clear, both KL and Pant play for my own team, if I compete with my own teammates then I’m letting my country down”.
Rishabh Pant was chosen ahead of Sanju Samson for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, so it will be interesting to see how things shake out in the World Cup.
