Here's Why Sanju Samson Is Not Playing The First ODI Against Sri Lanka

Star Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was not included in the Indian playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka and this started a row among fans on social media. India took on Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first in Colombo. As the senior Indian cricket team is in England preparing for a five-match Test series against the hosts which is slated to begin from August 05. Consequently, BCCI had to send a second-string squad to the Lankan island for the limited-overs tour which will be led by Shikhar Dhawan and coached by Rahul Dravid.

Reason Revealed: Why Sanju Samson Isn’t Playing In The First ODI vs Sri Lanka

As Shikhar Dhawan led the Indian team for the toss, he revealed that a couple of players including Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan will be making their ODI debut for the senior team in the first ODI. This started a row among fans on social media as to why Sanju Samson, the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman was left out of the first eleven.

Now, the reason behind Samson’s exclusion has been revealed, As per BCCI, Sanju Samson has suffered a ligament injury in his knee and thus, he wasn’t available for the selection in the first ODI. Ishan Kishan, the young batsman from Jharkhand, will thus be making his ODI debut for the Men in Blue.

Sanju Samson has sprained a ligament in his knee and won't be available for the selection in the first ODI.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 18, 2021

Sri Lanka Win The Toss And Elect To Bat First

The Sri Lankan Cricket Team led by Dasun Shanaka won the toss in the first ODI against India and they elected to bat first. Indian skipper Shikhar Dhawan mentioned that they too would have loved to win the toss and bat first in Colombo. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will be playing together for the visitors for the first time after the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

India’s Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal