India Squad Australia Series: India vs Australia – Sanju Samson and Sarfaraz Khan have been ignored once again from ODI and Test squads, respectively. There is no breaking news in this. But what’s shocking is backing some of the non-performers have been getting. KL Rahul retains his spot in the squad despite lacklustre form. Suryakumar Yadav is yet to find his feet in ODIs. Yet it’s Samson who gets the drop instead of SKY. Ishan Kishan too has struggled since his double century in Bangladesh. Follow IND vs AUS LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Who are Sarfaraz & Samson’s competitors?
- Ishan Kishan (ODIs)
- KL Rahul (Test)
- Suryakumar Yadav (Test & ODI)
Both ignored stars must be thinking what else do we need to do to break into the national team and secure places. But the Shiv Sundar Das-led selection committee has no answer to it. Even Mayank Agarwal has not got a recall despite scoring most runs in domestic and getting his form back.
India Squad Australia Series: Sanju Samson, Sarfaraz Khan once again VICTIMS of ‘FAVOURITSIM’, Shiv Sundar Das-led selection committee IGNORES performers for struggling stars, Check OUT
Sarfaraz Khan: Rahul Dravid asked the domestic stars to break the door down with performances. Sarfaraz Khan with nearly 2,500 runs in last 3 years alone has fired one canon ball after the other but to no avail.
Sarfaraz Khan in last three Ranji Trophy seasons:
- Ranji Trophy 2022-23: Innings: 9, Runs: 556, Avg: 92.66
- Ranji Trophy 2021-22: Innings: 9, Runs: 982, Avg: 122.75
- Ranji Trophy 2019-20: Innings: 9, Runs: 928, Avg: 154.66
In the last three years, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have been inconsistent. While KL Rahul has scored centuries in England, South Africa and Australia, he averages just a meagre 33.44 after playing 47 Tests. In the last 12 months, it has come down to 13.57. Even Mohammad Shami has a better Test average in batting (21.80) and Ravichandran Ashwin (37.00). Yet Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have backed Rahul over Sarfaraz.
Rahul needs to play County cricket in England , score runs and earn his place back, much like Pujara did when he was dropped. Playiing Test Cricket for the country and doing everything possible to get back in form will be the best answer. But will it be possible to skip the IPL?
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 19, 2023
Rohit Sharma on KL Rahul: “Of late there has been a lot of talk about his batting. For us as the management, we look at the potential of any individual, not just KL, and players with potential will get extended run. Batting at Lord’s on a damp wicket, it was one of the best hundreds I have seen, Centurion also. So, he has potential and we are backing him,” Rohit Sharma said at the post-match press conference.
Rahul Dravid on KL Rahul: “KL Rahul has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got hundred in South Africa, England and we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this phase,” Dravid said.
India Squad Australia Series: Sanju Samson, Sarfaraz Khan once again VICTIMS of ‘FAVOURITSIM’, Shiv Sundar Das-led selection committee IGNORES performers for struggling stars, Check OUT
What about Sanju Samson? – Samson has had a fate akin to Manish Pandey. He has done well in bits and pieces but hasn’t been able to convince the selectors or the team management. But of late, Samson has been a changed man. He has scored with consistency in T20s and ODIs, IPL and even for Kerala. But he has not managed to score a big one like Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill. Hence, Samson is out and Kishan-Gill are in.
Release him to play foreign leagues or even ask him to shift to some other country to pursue international cricket.
Avg of 66 & S/R of 104+ in ODIs, was one of the best attacking batter this Ranji with 14 sixes & 85+ S/R, yet gets brutally sidelined.#SanjuSamson deserves better. pic.twitter.com/U7fGXWtjPU— Amal Sudhakaran (@amal_sachinism) February 19, 2023
Sanju Samson Robbed Again 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Ep3rSWvJth
— AVI29 🇮🇳 (@SportsLover029) February 19, 2023
Suryakumar Yadav over Sanju Samson for ODIs? On what basis? pic.twitter.com/9iNCM1kZxK
— Akif (@KM_Akif) February 19, 2023
While Gill has been a consistent performer in ODIs, the same isn’t the case with Ishan. Since his fantastic double-century in Bangladesh, Ishan has scored 5, 8 and 17. Suryakumar Yadav averages 28.86 in ODIs. SKY’s last fifty was back in Feb 2022. Since then, SKY has averaged 15.63 and has had a strike rate of 101.77.
Sanju Samson during the same time period has averaged 71.00 and has maintained a strike rate of 105.57. But as KL Rahul gets the No 5 slot as a keeper-batter, Samson is out of favour yet again.
India Squad Australia Series: Sanju Samson, Sarfaraz Khan once again VICTIMS of ‘FAVOURITSIM’, Shiv Sundar Das-led selection committee IGNORES performers for struggling stars, Check OUT
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