Gautam Gambhir badly exposed as old remarks on Sanju Samson resurface after batter's shocking ODI omission

India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir's old comments on Sanju Samson went viral after the keeper-batter was dropped from Team India for the ODI series against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. The India team is all set to tour the island nation for the T20Is and the ODIs.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday (18th July) announced the squads for the ODI and the T20I series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. The squad had some surprise calls being taken and one among them was Sanju Samson missing from the 50-over Team, which will be captained by Rohit Sharma.

This comes as a big surprise because Sanju Samson slammed a blistering century in the last ODI that he played. The keeper-batter smashed a match-winning ton against South Africa in their backyard and played an innings of 108 runs off 114 balls at Paarl, bailing his team out of trouble.

Things have always been unfair for Sanju Samson as despite performing he has always failed to be the first-choice keeper-batter for the team. With him missing, many have blamed Gautam Gambhir for his omission from the ODI team for the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.

However, with Gautam Gambhir under the pump for Sanju Samson's omission from the squad, some of his previous comments on the keeper-batter have gone viral. This had made many lash out at the new India head coach for his hypocrisy.

Sanju Samson is not just the best wicketkeeper batsmen in India but the best young batsman in India!
Anyone up for debate?

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 22, 2020

In 2020, Gautam Gambhir called Sanju Samson as next young batsman in India. He took to his Twitter account and stated: "Sanju Samson is not just the best wicketkeeper-batsman in India but the best young batsman in India! Anyone up for debate?"

After Sanju Samson slammed a century against South Africa in Paarl, Gautam Gambhir then during an interaction on Star Sports said that with the way the keeper-batter has slammed big ton, he will be now getting a consistent run. He had said:

"But today, the way he made a big score, I believe that hopefully he will get a consistent run from here and you will get to see Sanju Samson's best."

Exposing @GautamGambhir !
He talked about giving sanju samson a longer run after his century in the SA series! Now Sanju is out the squad when he became the coach! Politics at the best! Where are the consistent opportunities that you talked about? @imAagarkar @shubhankrmishra pic.twitter.com/g7hHzs586Z

— E Aniruddh (@e_aniruddh) July 18, 2024

If Sanju Samson does not go on to play for India, it is not Sanju Samson's loss. It is India's loss - Gautam Gambhir

In the third massive praise for Sanju Samson, Gautam Gambhir praised the keeper-batter and stated that had MS Dhoni hit big sixes instead of Samson, people would've gone crazy, highlighting that the youngster needs to be given credit for what he does. He had stressed that the Rajasthan Royals skipper should be backed just like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were backed as he will go on to become the No.1 batter. He had said:

"I think the only playing XI he does not fit in is India playing XI. Apart from that, I think he fits in all the World XIs, to be honest. Tell me if MS Dhoni had hit these kind of sixes, what would have happened? So, this is where the problem is. You have to give credit to guys who that exceptional talent. And you know what, if Sanju Samson does not go on to play for India, it is not Sanju Samson's loss. It is India's loss. And I hope that Sanju Samson is backed the same way Rohit Sharma has been backed and Virat Kohli has been backed.

"I think you're losing out on a talent who probably will be a number one batter in the world in future if you back him. Unfortunately, we haven't backed him till now and I think people sitting in those big rooms or probably the selection committees, selection rooms, should be scratching their heads about why wasn't Sanju Samson part of the T20 or probably part of the last World Cup. And in fact, I picked him as a number four batter in the last World Cup as well,' he had said.

So Gautam Gambhir said all these about Sanju Samson just to drop him from ODI squad despite scoring a match winning 100 in last ODI series decider in SA.

Seems like lot of internal politics is going on & even Gambhir is helpless.@GautamGambhir @BCCI pic.twitter.com/noPcAeXVI9

— Anurag™ (@Samsoncentral) July 18, 2024