Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressed his dissatisfaction with the exclusion of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Yuzvendra Chahal from India’s white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The series, consisting of three T20Is and three ODIs, will see the T20Is starting on July 27 in Pallekele, followed by the ODIs from August 3-7 in Colombo.
Squad Selection Controversy
The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar and new head coach Gautam Gambhir, decided to drop Samson and Sharma despite their recent performances. Abhishek Sharma, who impressed with a century in his second international match against Zimbabwe, was omitted from the T20I squad. Sanju Samson, who scored his first international century in December 2023, was dropped from the ODI squad but included in the T20I team.
Harbhajan Singh took to Twitter to voice his confusion: “Hard to understand why Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, and Abhishek Sharma are not a part of the Indian team for Sri Lanka.”
Chahal’s Future in Doubt
Yuzvendra Chahal, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup squad last month, did not make it to either of the squads for the Sri Lanka series. The leg-spinner’s exclusion has raised questions about his future in white-ball cricket, especially with the emergence of Ravi Bishnoi as a preferred wrist-spin option.
Impact on Samson’s Future
Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the ODI squad, despite being picked for the T20Is, indicates that he might not be in the plans for the Champions Trophy next year. With Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul favored as wicketkeeping options, and a focus on more all-rounders, Samson’s chances seem slim.
Harbhajan’s Concerns
Harbhajan Singh, a former off-spinner, found the omissions puzzling given the players’ recent performances. He emphasized the importance of selecting players who have shown form and capability, especially in crucial matches like the 2019 World Cup, where Shami took 13 wickets in three matches.
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