'Justice for Sanju Samson' - Fans erupt as Indian Cricket Board overlooks wicketkeeper batter for ODI series against Australia

Sanju Samson (Source: Twitter)

The Indian Cricket Board on Monday evening announced two different squads for the three-match ODI series against Australia, starting on September 22. While veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed the headlines for his return to the ODI side after 20 months, many felt bad for Sanju Samson, who has once again been overlooked in both squads.

Having made his international debut in the T20 series against Zimbabwe in 2015, Samson was never a regular member of Team India. The Kerala-born cricketer played his maiden ODI match in 2021 but featured only in limited matches so far. Despite his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Rajasthan Royals skipper has always been an out-of-favour cricketer in the national team.

Samson was last seen on the 2023 tour of the West Indies, where he scored a half-century in the 50-over format. He was ignored for the subsequent 2023 Asia Cup and opted to play county cricket. However, that did not happen as he was named as the travelling reserve for the injured KL Rahul. But when the middle-order batter returned to the squad, Sanju had to leave the camp.

With no surprises, the 28-year-old was omitted from India's ODI World Cup squad as well. Recently when the governing body announced the squads against Australia, Sanju was again left out of Indian cricket plans despite Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Suryakumar Yadav finding a spot. The vice-captain of the Indian U-19 team for the 2014 U-19 Cricket World Cup is currently not a part of any of India's cricket operations, even in the Asian Games.

India squad for the first two matches: KL Rahul (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

India squad for the third ODI: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya, (Vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel*, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj

Here's how fans reacted to Sanju Samson's omission from the ODI series against Australia:

Sanju will miss you in the world Cup ❤🧡💛💚

— Gyani Khopdi (@gyaniKhopdi) September 18, 2023

Most unlucky player 😕

— Sports Fan (@crazyforsports7) September 18, 2023

Justice for Sanju Samson. pic.twitter.com/peVpSExCf0

— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) September 18, 2023

Sanju samson story will go down as one of the darkest points in BCCI history

Every selector,every captain, every one running an agenda against him

What more does he need to do?

The guy who was in reserves for Asia cup, not selected in Asian games, Not in AUS series, not in WC

— Pavan (@pavanacp28) September 18, 2023

He will come back. Stay strong buddy 🤞🤞 pic.twitter.com/xX4OZ76dgX

— उड़ता परिंदा (@chhotuawara) September 18, 2023

Bloody politics from Bcci ruined everything for samson
Not even a single match played tilak giving a chance to play
Whatt sort of a Favouritism going on in cricket 😭😐 and they talk about WC

— VINEETH𓃵🦖 (@sololoveee) September 18, 2023

A special talent successfully wasted by BCCI

— Maheen🖤🇵🇰 (@mahi5621_) September 18, 2023

Sanju really deserves to be in the team. What a massive talent, needs to be there in the team asap 🙌

— Chatur (Not an Idiot) (@mpbsvs) September 18, 2023

Yes. At least, Asian Games. Not fair at all

— Suvajit Mustafi (@RibsGully) September 18, 2023