Sanju Samson OUT of India's ODI plans? Ajit Agarkar reveals why Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul were picked ahead

Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the Indian selection committee, has opened up about the decision-making process behind the inclusion of both wicketkeeper batters Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka.

With Pant returning to India’s ODI squad after a lengthy break due to his recovery from the horrific car accident, Agarkar said that the Indian selectors want to reintegrate the talented left-hander gradually across the three formats of the game.

Ajit Agarkar reveals strategy for Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul's return in India's ODI squad

The chief selector said that this approach is designed to ease Pant back into Team India without adding unnecessary pressure or burden on him, allowing him to regain his form and confidence. On the other hand, KL Rahul's selection comes with the strategic intention of a fresh start.

Agarkar revealed that the selectors have allowed Rahul to reset and refocus under the fresh coaching set-up headed by Gautam Gambhir, following some feedback, to help the wicketkeeper-batter regain his peak form.

Ajit Agarkar said at the press conference: “Rishabh has been out for a long time. So, we want to bring him back without burdening him. Someone who has come back after a long time, you need to bring them back in the scheme of things gradually. KL, one of the feedbacks he has got is ‘you’ve got to hit the reset button’.”

As both Pant and Rahul were included in the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour, another deserving player, Sanju Samson, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter, unfortunately missed out on a selection. Samson was part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning squad and also the 4-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe, but still he was overlooked for the Sri Lanka tour.

Difficult to fit everyone in the 15-member squad: Ajit Agarkar

Reacting to the same, the Indian chief selector admitted to feeling sorry for the talented players like Samson, but he urged everyone to accept the 'tough reality', as they can’t fit everybody in the 15-member team. However, Samson is part of India's T20I squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting on July 27.

Agarkar signed off by saying, “You've got to see who has been picked ahead of them. At this stage, we had a chance to give some of the guus a go in Zimbabwe. We have depth. Rinku missed out on t20 World Cup for no fault of his, sometimes that is just the way it goes. Difficult to fit everyone in the 15. That is generally the life of a player. It is tough but that is the reality.”

Notably, Rohit Sharma will return to lead India in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 2 in Colombo.

Here’s India’s ODI squad for Sri Lanka tour:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.