REPORTS Reveal The Real Reason on Why Sanju Samson was snubbed from the ODI series vs Sri Lanka

Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India sets off a new chapter when they square against Sri Lanka in a white ball bilateral series starting on Saturday. The choice of the squad has caused criticism, especially the absence of Sanju Samson, which fuels strong discussion among experts and supporters. All eyes are on India to see the team's performance and strategic orientation under Gambhir's leadership as this series is the first one the new head coach works on.

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Reports state that Sanju Samson was snubbed owing to KL Rahul's selection for the ODIs

Starting their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy in Feburay 2025, Rishabh Pant is ready to return to ODI cricket next month against India facing Sri Lanka in Colombo. Pant has not been included into the format since a major December 2022 disaster where he met into a serious road accident. He will accompany KL Rahul as one of the assigned wicketkeepers; KL Rahul kept wickets in Pant's absence at the ODI World Cup 2023. Rahul is not, however, Pant's main backup in this format.

While Sanju Samson was left out, KL Rahul was chosen for the ODI series against Sri Lanka. After batting for India in all forms, KL Rahul, who scored 452 runs in 10 innings including a century and two half-centuries, has adjusted nicely to his middle order position.

Rishabh Pant is anticipated to regain his status as a middle-order wicketkeeper-batsman upon his return to ODIs, following a successful T20 World Cup campaign. KL Rahul will presumably be unable to participate and will be on the bench in the three ODI matches against Sri Lanka, which are scheduled to take place from August 3 to 7.

KL Rahul is not considered to be India's reserve wicketkeeper, as per ESPNCricinfo. Rather, selectors favour Dhruv Jurel, who demonstrated his potential during his international debut in the England Test series earlier this year, as the primary reserve keeper in all formats.

The piece of report also noted that KL Rahul's selection in the ODI squad led to the exclusion of Sanju Samson, despite Samson achieving his first international century in India's previous ODI encounter in December 2023. Sanju Samson had captained the side during an away series against South Africa.

KL Rahul was omitted from the T20I series, while Samson was chosen as a substitute for Pant. Indicating that the Karnataka-born player is no longer being considered for the shortest format, this selection decision comes as India gets ready for the 2026 T20 World Cup. KL Rahul was previously disregarded for selection in both the T20 World Cup and the last tour of Zimbabwe.

India’s T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj. 

India’s ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.