It was unusual but not entirely unexpected to see Sanju Samson’s banner flying high inside the stadium where FIFA World Cup matches are being held. Not many players can match the popularity of Samson, despite him playing just a handful of matches for the Indian team.  

There were a series of posters in support of Sanju Samson that was displayed both outside and inside the stadium on the day where he was dropped from the Indian team, again. Samson played the first ODI against New Zealand, but couldn’t find a place in the second match of the series, as the team management dropped him to play an extra bowler.  

Samson was also named in the T20I squad for the series against New Zealand, but couldn’t walk into the playing XI even once. The stand-in captain Hardik Pandya was criticised for his decision to overlook Samson, but he justified this on the basis of “strategic decisions”. 

“If they are sitting out… Sanju Samson, for example, we wanted to play him, but for whatever reason, we could not. But I can get into their shoes and understand how they are feeling. As a cricketer, it is difficult, whatever one might say,” Pandya had said. 

Samson is one of the most destructive batters in the shortest format of the game, as testified by his insane IPL numbers. Yet he hasn’t got a consistent run in the Indian side. After India were knocked out of T20 World Cup in the semi-finals, many thought the team management will now move away from some of the names. But it hasn’t happened, as they preferred the likes of Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan ahead of Samson. 

Not many players have a better IPL record than the current Rajasthan Royals skipper. He is also the most versatile player with no glaring weakness against any form of bowling. Earlier this year, he led Rajasthan Royals to the final of the IPL 2022, where they lost to the Gujarat Titans. Samson has also been snubbed from the ODI squad against Bangladesh.  

Lead Image: Rajasthan Royals/ Twitter