Since dropping to the middle order, KL Rahul had sealed the wicketkeeper’s slot in the Indian ODI side. From 77 ODIs, Rahul averages 49.15 and strikes at 88, but the numbers rise to 56.78 and 93 when he bats at four or five.

In the 2023 World Cup, Rahul finished with 452 runs at 75.33 and 91, batting at five throughout the tournament. There was little doubt over his selection for the 2025 Champions Trophy squad and perhaps even the starting XI.

However, India wanted another keeper in the squad, and for that, they had Samson and Rishabh Pant to choose from. On paper, Samson has the better numbers – average 56.67, strike rate 100, compared to Pant’s 33.50 and 106.

However, Samson has played only 16 games, of which only seven have been against teams that have qualified for the Champions Trophy. Since his return from the horrific injury of end-2022, Pant has batted only once in ODIs (and made six runs). Across 2021 and 2022, he averaged 44.63 and struck at 109. One may argue that his ascent in the format had just begun.

The decision to pick Pant ahead of Samson was a close call, perhaps determined by the fact that the left-handed Pant will help break the monotony in a right-handed top order (provided Yashasvi Jaiswal does not make an unexpected debut). But Samson’s recent run-ins with the Kerala Cricket Association might have played their part as well.

“Career destroyed by the egos of cricket administrators”

In December 2024, Samson did not turn up for Kerala’s training camp ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (though he had emailed in advance). On December 18, Kerala responded by taking the bold move of dropping their captain from their squad.

On December 23, after Kerala had played two games, Samson told the authorities that he would be available for selection, but nothing came of that. He did not feature in the tournament at all.

When India named their Champions Trophy squad on January 18, Samson was not part of it. Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment.

“You can’t come and play for Kerala whenever you feel like,” said Jayesh George, now KCA president and a former BCCI joint secretary on Sunday (January 19).

Given the BCCI’s renewed focus on national cricketers playing domestic cricket, there is a chance that Samson's non-participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy did not sit well with the selectors.

However, he also clarified: “Hemang Amin [BCCI COO] asked me if there was disciplinary action taken against Samson that held him back from playing in the Vijay Hazare games. I replied in the negative and he wouldn’t have been up for Champions Trophy consideration had I suggested otherwise.”

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