What to make of Samson being left in the cold?

‘Justice for Sanju Samson.’ ‘How can the selectors leave out a batter of the class of Samson?’ ‘Is the think-tank indulging in preferential treatment?’ Over the last some years, the above-mentioned questions and statements are repeated by numerous fans on social media platforms every single time Samson is left out of India’s limited overs side. 

In certain ways, they are justified in thinking that Samson should be an established member of the ODI set-up. Unfortunately, though, he couldn’t secure a berth in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australian tour.

The elegant right-hander has played  only 16 ODIs over a timeframe of 10 years. But in those limited number of games, he averages an impressive 56.66. Moreover, Samson accumulated a hundred in the previous ODI that he played, against South Africa. Although one has to travel back in time to December 2023 to excavate information about the ‘keeper-batter’s previous ODI. 

More importantly, Samson occupied the number 3 position in that game versus South Africa. The ‘keeper-bat, however, has slotted in at number 3 only three times in his ODI career. On the other hand, he has batted at either the number 5 or number 6 slot on 10 occasions. Just that the Indian selection panel seem to believe that Samson is better suited to bat in the top order. There is some logic attached to the theory as Samson prefers to take the ball on the rise.

“It’s more (due to) position (that he’s not in the squad). I mean, Sanju Samson bats at the top of the order,” said Ajit Agarkar, Indian team’s chief selector, at a press conference in Ahmedabad. “I think when he got a hundred, I think he batted number three, if I’m not wrong. Jurel usually bats low down the order. KL bats there as well. You’ve seen how good a player Dhruv is,” he said in the press conference.”

In the eventual analysis, it is fair to say that there is fierce competition for places in the batting order. And it came down to selectors believing that Dhruv Jurel is a better fit to take a slot lower down the order. But if you dissect it purely from Samson’s perspective, then the experienced player will feel hard done by. After all, he hasn’t done anything wrong in the few opportunities that he has received in the One-Day arena.