'Why him always?': Ex-India cricketer questions Sanju Samson's snub from India ODI squad for Sri Lanka tour

Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh has raised concerns regarding the exclusion of Sanju Samson from the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, commencing on August 2.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the squads for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, revealing some unexpected selections. These surprises included the inclusion of Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube in the ODI squad, the appointment of Shubman Gill as vice-captain of the white-ball teams, and the omission of Ruturaj Gaikwad from both squads.

The decision to leave out Sanju Samson from the ODI squad, despite his inclusion in the T20I series, has sparked criticism from various former cricketers, with Dodda Ganesh expressing disappointment in the BCCI selectors' choice of Shivam Dube over Samson.

In a statement shared on social media, Dodda Ganesh expressed sympathy for Sanju Samson, who he believes has been unfairly overlooked despite his proven abilities.

"Shivam Dube in place of Sanju Samson in the ODIs is ridiculous. Poor Sanju scored a century in his last series against SA. Why him always? My heart goes out to this young man," former India cricketer wrote.

Shivam Dube in place of Sanju Samson in the ODIs is ridiculous. Poor Sanju scored a century in his last series against SA. Why him always? My heart goes out to this young man #SLvIND

— Dodda Ganesh |  (@doddaganesha) July 18, 2024

In India's recent ODI match, Sanju Samson emerged as the standout player and was awarded the Man of the Match title for his exceptional performance. He scored an impressive 108 runs off 114 balls against South Africa in Paarl. Prior to this, Samson also showcased his talent in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he scored 58 runs in the final match.

Since his international debut in a T20I match against Zimbabwe in 2015, Samson has been in and out of the India squad. The talented cricketer, hailing from Kerala, has a commendable record in ODIs, amassing 510 runs, which includes a century and three fifties. He boasts an impressive average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60 in 14 innings.

Also read| Explained: Why Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja were dropped from ODI team for Sri Lanka tour