One of India’s most talented batsmen, Sanju Samson, was out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka despite his scintillating performance in the last 50-over game. Now, former cricketer Robin Uthappa gives a straight take on how frequently such snubs happen to Samson. His omission had kicked off the discussions and questions begging over the selection process.
Robin Uthappa’s Blunt Response
Robin Uthappa did not mince words as he spoke of Samson’s omission. It wasn’t the first time for Samson, and neither was it going to be the last. For Uthappa, the repeated snubs are part of Samson’s challenging international journey.
There is no denying that Sanju Samson is talented; the skills and performances have all been there for everybody to see, more so in the one-day format. Yet, the man failed to get a steady place in the Indian team. Uthappa brought out that the record in one-day cricket was good, and his continuous omission goes beyond logic. This talent-selection paradox of his gives rise to many questions about what the selectors are looking at.
Uthappa pointed out that changes within the leadership group might be influencing these decisions. He says that Sanju is not out of contention and will get another opportunity. Uthappa’s optimism regarding Samson’s future does point to the fact that sometimes talent and hard work do ultimately pay off despite inconsistent selection policies.
He said that the mistakes he made were not seized as opportunities. When given an opportunity, Samson must perform well to stay in contention. Uthappa made it clear to Samson that he must make the best of the opportunity to get a place in the team. This is what needs to be the hard-nosed reality involved in international cricket, wherein almost every match becomes a referendum for players to make it into the team.
Samson Needs a Longer Run
Presently, Sanju Samson finds a place in India’s T20I team for the tour of Sri Lanka. That itself is indicative of the fact that, at least in the shortest format of the game, selectors still back him. A good show in T20Is might reflect in his fortunes in ODIs. The fact that Samson has been named in the T20I squad signals that he still holds the attention of selectors, and now it is upon him to use that platform to improve his case for being a part of the ODI team.
A fine performance in T20I could convince the selectors that Samson needs a longer run in ODIs. Making it to the T20I squad itself is a good omen, and fine performances there can clear his route for more opportunities in 50-over matches. Samson’s performance in the T20I series will be worth watching since it will act as a key for frequent opportunities in the ODI format. Robin Uthappa came out very strongly in support of Samson. He believes in the innate capabilities that Samson has and has expressed a lot of optimism about his prospects in the future. This support from a former player proves to be morale-boosting for Samson, coupled with a credible voice for the quest for selection processes.
Sanju Samson has been out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka, and this development has raised many eyebrows. He is a prodigy who does not find it easy to secure a place on the Indian team. With support from former players like Uthappa and probable chances in the T20I format, Samson’s journey through international cricket becomes engrossing and debatable. Ongoing discussions reflect not only the transparency and consistency that go into selection processes but also the resilience that players need to get through the ups and downs of their careers.
