India wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson will reportedly miss his spot in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which is scheduled to start from February 19. The matches of the mega event will take place in Pakistan and Dubai. India will play all their matches in Dubai.
As per the news agency PTI, India wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson is unlikely to be picked in India’s Champions Trophy squad. Samson who will feature in the five-match T20Is series against England last played an ODI match for India on December 21, 2023, against South Africa in Paarl and scored a century in that match.
The report further stated that KL Rahul who had done wicketkeeping in ODI World Cup 2023 will play as a as a specialist batter in the Champions Trophy, and Rishabh Pant will be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper.
There are three contenders for backup wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, Ishan Kishan and Samson. The chances of Samson are very low as he missed the latest edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy citing personal reasons.
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Samson will now be seen opening the batting for India alongside Abhishek Sharma in the upcoming five-match T20I series which is scheduled to start from January 22. Samson is currently in the form of his life the wicketkeeper batter became first batter in T20I history to score three centuries in a calendar year. He is also only the second player after England's Phil Salt to achieve two centuries in a bilateral T20I series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has delayed the announcement of the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy as there are reportedly looms over Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav's participation.
Team India will play their Champions Trophy opener clash against Bangladesh on February 20. The high-voltage match between India and Pakistan will take place on February 23.