Sanju Samson Left Out of India’s ODI Squad Against Australia: Shock for Fans
Published - 06 Oct 2025, 04:37 PM | Updated - 06 Oct 2025, 04:41 PM
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia, marking the much-anticipated return of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who last represented India during the Champions Trophy earlier this year. While the announcement brought excitement for fans, one significant development caught attention: Sanju Samson has been dropped from India’s ODI squad.
Why Was Sanju Samson Dropped?
Sanju Samson, the talented wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala, has been one of India’s most promising limited-overs players. In 16 ODI appearances, Samson has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.66 with a strike rate of 99.60, including one century and three fifties. His last outing in the 50-over format came in 2023 against South Africa, where he scored a match-winning 108 off 114 balls, helping India clinch the series 2-1.
Despite these impressive stats, Samson has been left out of the ODI squad in favor of Dhruv Jurel, a young wicketkeeper who impressed in the Test format, scoring a brilliant century against the West Indies in the first Test. With Rishabh Pant sidelined due to injury, many expected Samson to step in as the second wicketkeeper for the ODIs. However, the selection panel, led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, opted to give Jurel the opportunity in the 50-over format.
Former Selector and Player Srikkanth Backs Sanju
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth expressed his disappointment with the decision, saying on his YouTube channel:
"Again, very unfair. Sanju should have been there, considering he scored a century in his last ODI. So, every day, the reason for change keeps shifting for each individual. One day you make him bat at 5, then another day you make him open. Sometimes you send him at 7 or 8. How did Dhruv Jurel suddenly come in? Sanju may or may not feature in the 11, but he has to be given the first right of refusal."
India’s ODI Squad Against Australia:
The Indian ODI squad for the series is led by Shubman Gill, with Shreyas Iyer serving as vice-captain. The squad includes a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talent:
ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal
The decision reflects the selectors’ intent to strengthen the depth in India’s limited-overs squad, providing younger players like Jurel a chance to showcase their skills at the international level.
Sanju Samson Retains His T20 Spot
Although Samson has been dropped from the ODI squad, he retains his place in the T20I squad. During the Asia Cup, Samson was asked to bat in the middle order, while Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma opened.
He delivered crucial contributions, including a vital 50-run partnership with Tilak Varma in the final against Pakistan after India had slumped to 20 for 3.
Samson finished as India’s third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 132 runs at an average of 33. His performances in the T20 format demonstrate his ability to anchor innings under pressure, further cementing his place in India’s shortest-format plans.
