Sanju Samson's omission was one of the biggest talking points after the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the Indian team for the 2025 Champions Trophy on Satuday (January 18) with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant getting the nod as the team's two wicket-keeper batters.

Samson was not part of the Indian squad for their last ODI assignment against Sri Lanka in August last year but made a century in his last ODI appearance for the Men in Blue against South Africa in December 2023. The 30-year-old has been in red-hot form in white-ball cricket with three tons in his last five T20I innings.

However, Samson's chances of making the squad were put in jeopardy after he was not included in Kerala's squad for the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) squad denying him a chance to prove his form in the 50-over format to the selectors. The wicket-keeper batter's omission from the squad has sparked a major controversy after the batter told the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) that he was ready to play the tournament after missing a preparatory camp.

Kerala Cricket Assocation President Jayesh Goerge slammed Samson for turning up to play for Kerala only when he felt like doing so. George was not pleased with the Rajasthan Royals' skipper for only informing the KCA of his absence from the camp with a one-line text and refused to take the blame for him not making the Champions Trophy squad.

“I am not sure if Samson missing the tournament was the reason he was excluded. The reason he was not added to the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We were all of the impression that he would be leading the team since he is our white-ball captain and had led in the SMAT season as well," George told Media One.

“So, we went ahead and announced the squad, and later he sent a message stating he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected. We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like it? How did Samson reach the Indian team? It was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like it for the Kerala team," George added.

Samson led Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) just days before being left out of the state team for the VHT.

Samson has a terrific record in ODI cricket with 510 runs in 14 innings at an average of 56.66 with one century and three half-centuries.

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