It seems like the BCCI, the selectors and the Indian team management have made their mind up on Rishabh Pant’s immediate future in white-ball cricket, which is to drop the left-hander and give others opportunities to present their cases with a long rope. Pant has been dropped from both the T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming home matches against Sri Lanka.
With Pant dropped – or “rested”, who knows because the selectors don’t interact with media and their questions – Ishan Kishan is the designated wicket-keeper in both the ODI and T20I series. Sanju Samson has been named in the T20Is series, but not in the ODIs.
Starting January 3, India host Sri Lanka for 3 T20Is followed by 3 ODIs, the squad for which were announced by the BCCI on Tuesday evening. Hardik Pandya will lead India in T20Is where Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are rested. All three of them will return for the ODI series.
The big news is that this could be the end of road for Shikhar Dhawan who has been dropped from the ODI squad, and Shubman Gill has been preferred and likely to partner Rohit at the top.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
Hardik had led India in the T20I series win in New Zealand, when Sharma was rested. Sharma suffered a thumb injury in Bangladesh and will make his return in the ODIs vs Sri Lanka.
Sanju Samson fans were elated with the news of not only Samson being retained in the T20I squad, but Rishabh Pant being dropped too. However, Samson too has not been included in the ODI squad with Kishan and Rahul mentioned as wicketkeepers.
Here are the reaction on Samson getting selected while Pant getting the axe:
Selectors dropped Rishabh Pant rather than picking Sanju Samson to calm down his fans. 😭
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 27, 2022
Good News – Selectors are likely to give Sanju Samson longer run in T20Is
— All About Cricket (@allaboutcric_) December 27, 2022
Sanju Samson in not included in the ODI squad despite having a good run in ODIs in 2022. So he is not in the plans for 2023 Worldcup. @BCCI
— ebyjayan (@eby_jayan) December 27, 2022
Sanju Samson won’t be featuring in playing 11.
Deepak Hooda or Rahul tripathi will get the opportunity ahead of sanju… https://t.co/wKqqPAwyoh— Vivek (@impillaiV) December 27, 2022
Bhai ye kl Rahul se itna pyaar kuo why not Sanju Samson?? #sanjusamon #KLRahul https://t.co/7dxkXN4V6W
— Aashish Toshniwal (@aashishtosh1607) December 27, 2022
KL Rahul oneday mein kya kar rahe hain jabki KL Rahul to teenon format mein khelna bhi deserve nahin karte KL Rahul ki vajah se Sanju Samson aur Rishabh pant ko Bali ka Bakra banaya Gaya
— Dk chacha IPL Wale Finisher (@FinisherDk) December 27, 2022
You waited a T20 world cup loss to drop the legendary trio..now y’all waiting to lose wc23 to drop the trio again from one day ..what a joke seriously #INDvsSL ..kl is better than Samson and pant?…wow ..#doomed
— Ankit (@nkit388) December 27, 2022
Ishan spot competition is with Dhawan
Samson is competing for middle order role where Rahul and Pant are already lock him not to mention Shreyas nailed down the position too
Samson should be in place of SKY in ODIs— Amaan Sarwar (@AmaanSarwar4) December 27, 2022
Dhawan dropped
Pant dropped
Samson dropped
Chucci at it again 🤣🤣 https://t.co/e932DQN3nj— Shikhar (@VamosFedee) December 27, 2022
