Harbhajan Singh Disappointed With Sanju Samson's Snub In Champions Trophy 2025
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressed disappointment at Sanju Samson getting ignored in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. The 15-member squad for the upcoming tournament was released last week by skipper Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar. The selectors decided to put their faith in KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for the tournament. Samson played his last ODI game in December 2023 during the away series against South Africa. At that point, Pant was recovering from the injuries he suffered in a car accident. He made his return to ODI last year during the series against Sri Lanka. After Pant's comeback, Samson was dropped in 2024.
The 30-year-old has played a total of 16 matches, scoring 510 runs at an average of 56.66. Still, after giving such performances, he gets ignored from big tournaments.
Harbhajan Singh said that even after scoring runs, Samson gets dropped from the Champions Trophy.
"Truly, I feel bad for him. He scores runs, but he is dropped. I know you can only select 15, but I feel his batting suits the format. He has an average of 55-56, but he isn't even there as a second wicketkeeper. When we talk about selecting him, people ask, In whose place? Places can be made."
Further, he also talked about Yuzvendra Chahal's omission, stating that he is a superb bowler and selectors should have gone for him.
"Sanju isn't there. Yuzvendra Chahal isn't there too. You've picked four spinners; two of them are left-armers. You could've included a leg-spinner for variation, too. Chahal is a superb bowler. I don't know what wrong he did that he doesn't fit this team."
In the Champions Trophy, Shubman Gill has been named as vice-captain, so it's a bit difficult for Yashasvi Jaiswal, as Gill will play, and three or four spots will be occupied by Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Harbhajan Singh said,
"I thought Yashasvi would open, but now, I don't feel that. Shubman Gill is the vice-captain, so he will play. And Yashasvi won't bat at three or four, because Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will occupy those spots."