T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson misses out on ODI spot; AB de Villiers says he 'feels sorry for him' and questions the selection.
Samson played a key role in India's recent T20 World Cup victory, where he scored three consecutive half-centuries in the last three matches.
His excellent form continued in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he scored 477 runs, including two centuries.
Despite such a strong performance, he was left out of the ODI series against Afghanistan and England. AB de Villiers expressed his disappointment on his YouTube channel.
He mentioned that while Rishabh Pant's exclusion is understandable, Samson was very close to making the team and should have been given a chance.
"Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are both top wicketkeepers. Both Pant and Samson have been left out. But Samson was very close. He had a fantastic IPL and was in form even before that. It's not a big surprise, but I do feel a bit sorry for Samson."
De Villiers spoke not only about Samson but also about the exclusion of young opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal had scored a century in his last match against Afghanistan.
He said that Jaiswal had to make way for the returning Virat Kohli, which is sometimes difficult for young players.
De Villiers said, "Virat Kohli is back. It's a tough decision for Jaiswal. He was playing in Virat's place, scored a century, and now has to step aside."
He added that one cannot complain about it, but sometimes things get a bit tough for players when the big names return.
However, de Villiers supported the team management's process, stating that giving a place to an in-form legend like Virat Kohli is the right decision. This selection highlights the depth and competition within Indian cricket.
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