Sanju Samson was not selected for the Champions Trophy 2025 squad, announced on 18th January at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. This news came as a surprise, especially after his excellent performances in T20 cricket. Despite his strong form in the T20 format, with a century in the Bangladesh T20 series and two consecutive centuries in the South Africa T20 series, Samson was not included in the squad. Many had expected him to be named due to his recent form, but his omission raised questions.

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Samson had played in the Bangladesh T20 series first, followed by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led his home team, Kerala. After that, he participated in the South Africa T20 series. Given the tight schedule, Samson decided to rest before the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, as he felt this would allow him to perform better in the 50-over format. However, during this rest period, Kerala's state team had a camp to prepare for the Vijay Hazare Trophy season, and Samson chose not to join the camp. This decision led to his exclusion from the state team, which became a point of controversy.

The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) secretary, Vinod S. Kumar, clarified the situation, stating that Samson had informed them via email that he would not be available for the camp. The team held a short camp in Wayanad without him, and naturally, only players who were part of the camp were considered for selection. This led to no further discussion with Samson on the matter.

Samson's absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy was a key issue. According to the new guidelines, players are expected to play domestic cricket if not on national duty. Samson's decision to skip the tournament did not sit well with the BCCI selectors, and reports suggested that the BCCI was unhappy with his casual approach.

BCCI Asks Samson About His Absence from Vijay Hazare

In this matter, the BCCI not only spoke to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) but also directly engaged with Sanju Samson. According to reports, the BCCI asked Samson why he chose not to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Samson's response was that he had informed the KCA that he would not be joining the camp, as he felt the Kerala board had not required his presence. The BCCI, however, was not satisfied with this explanation.

BCCI’s Response to Samson's Explanation

The BCCI emphasized the new rules, which require players to participate in domestic cricket if they are not on national duty. They were concerned that Samson's decision to skip the camp went against the spirit of these regulations, especially considering that the Vijay Hazare Trophy was an important opportunity for him to prove himself in the 50-over format.

Samson’s Defense of His Actions

Later, in this conversation, Samson reportedly responded to the BCCI, explaining that in the past, when he had not joined the camp, the board had still selected him. He thought the same would happen this time. However, the BCCI found this response even more casual and irresponsible.

The BCCI was disappointed with Samson's casual attitude towards domestic cricket and his failure to join the Kerala camp. His actions were viewed as irresponsible, especially in light of the new rules emphasizing the importance of domestic cricket. This, in turn, led to his omission from the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.

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The BCCI's stance is clear: they now emphasize that players should participate in domestic cricket, as it helps with their overall performance and development. Samson's failure to join the camp and his casual approach to the Vijay Hazare Trophy cost him a spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. His omission highlights the consequences of not adhering to the expectations set by the board.

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Samson is currently part of the T20 series against England, which began on 22nd January, and is seen as a regular opener in the T20 side. However, his exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad continues to be a major talking point.