Indian cricket star Sanju Samson has been in his best form, delivering exceptional performances on both domestic and international stages. As one of India’s brightest cricketing stars, Samson has carved a niche for himself with record breaking feats. Yet, despite his remarkable form and leadership qualities, the question looms large about him being a part of Kerala’s playing eleven for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Recently, Samson informed the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) of his availability for the remaining four Group E matches in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy in Hyderabad. Despite this, the KCA has yet to decide on including him into the squad for the best matches. Samson who has had a remarkable year, has amassed 436 runs in T20I matches which includes three centuries. Notably, it was later revealed that he was slated to play the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa but was excluded from the playing eleven by Rohit Sharma just before the toss in Barbados. Even now when Kerala announced its squad for the 50 over domestic tournament, they left out Samson’s name delivering a huge blow to his fans and supporters.
The KCA earlier stated that Samson was excluded from the 15-member team after failing to report for a preparatory camp held in Wayanad between December 13 and 17. While KCA officials have cited internal policies for his exclusion, they haven’t provided a detailed explanation, leaving everyone questioning the transparency of the selection process.
According to the sources, Samson reportedly informed the KCA about his unavailability for the camp, but despite this, the KCA officials have not made any public comments explaining the rationale for his final exclusion.
Notably, Samson’s exclusion has ignited a widespread criticism from cricket enthusiasts and fans who believe his form and experience could significantly contribute to Kerala’s performance.
It should be noted that Samson’s captaincy in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 led Kerala to an impressive four wins out of six matches, solidifying his credentials not only as a leader, but also as a performer. He scored a century off 40 balls against Bangladesh and became the first Indian cricketer to strike two successive hundreds in T20Is. Who can forget his stunning 109 off 56 balls in the T20I series against South Africa? His consistent performances have shown his determination to take his scores off the chart.
Even players like Sachin Baby and Basil Thambi, who have delivered brilliant performances on the pitch, are still waiting for their opportunities to play at higher levels. These questionable selection decisions have fueled speculations about why players from Kerala are often overlooked for chances to represent India.
Will the Kerala Cricket Association rise to the occasion and embrace a player who has consistently delivered on the grounds, and make a decision that resonates with the dream of million?