KCA President Lashes Out At Sanju Samson For Missing Vijay Hazare Trophy

January 19, 20255: The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president, Jayesh George, has sharply criticized Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson for his absence during Kerala’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, which might have affected his omission from India’s ICC Champions Trophy squad. Samson, who has been in solid form for India in limited-overs cricket, notably missed Kerala’s domestic commitments, which has raised concerns among selectors.

Samson had informed the authorities that he would be available for Kerala’s remaining Vijay Hazare games after initially missing the start of the tournament. However, he ultimately did not participate in the competition at all. KCA president Jayesh expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “You cannot come and play for Kerala whenever you feel like.” He emphasized that this behavior could have influenced the selectors’ decision when it came to choosing players for the Champions Trophy squad.

Samson, who has been in good form for India in ODIs and T20Is, was left out in favor of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, both of whom have been performing well in recent times. Samson’s omission from the Champions Trophy squad could partly stem from concerns about his commitment to domestic cricket, with Jayesh revealing that BCCI COO Hemang Amin had asked if any disciplinary action had been taken against Samson, to which the answer was no.

Despite his solid performances for India in recent years, including a century in ODIs and strong showings in T20Is, Samson’s failure to participate in domestic cricket has raised questions about his readiness and dedication. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, both with notable records, continue to hold their positions as India’s preferred wicketkeeping options.

With the upcoming Champions Trophy group stage fixtures, which will include matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, the selection of the squad will be closely scrutinized.