{"id":36579,"date":"2025-01-25T07:25:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T07:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastrovedica.com\/wordpress\/?p=36579"},"modified":"2025-01-25T07:26:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T07:26:05","slug":"he-has-55-56-average-harbhajan-singh-questions-sanju-samsons-exclusion-from-india-squad-for-champions-trophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastrovedica.com\/wordpress\/?p=36579","title":{"rendered":"‘He has 55-56 average …’: Harbhajan Singh questions Sanju Samson’s exclusion from India squad for Champions Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Story by TOI Sports Desk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u2022 1h \u2022 2 min read<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"'He<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘He has 55-56 average …’: Harbhajan Singh questions Sanju Samson’s exclusion from India squad for Champions Trophy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW DELHI: The omission of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from India’s ICC Champions Trophy squad has raised eyebrows, with former cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressing his surprise over the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samson, who averages over 56 in ODIs, last played the format in December 2023 but has since been overlooked despite consistent performances.\"Explore<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Truly, I feel bad for him,” Harbhajan said in an interview with Switch. “Whenever he scored runs, he always went outside the team first. I understand you can only select 15, but the ODI format suits his batting. He has a 55-56 average, and he is not even included as a second wicketkeeper. If you want, you can create a place in the team.”\"Expand  Continue reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selectors have chosen KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeping options for the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harbhajan also criticised the exclusion of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, highlighting the lack of variation in India’s spin attack. “You’ve picked four spinners, two of them left-armers. You could’ve included a leg-spinner for variation. Chahal is a superb bowler. I don’t know what wrong he did that he doesn’t fit in this team.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, Harbhajan raised questions about Yashasvi Jaiswal’s role in the playing XI, given Shubman Gill’s elevation to vice-captain. “I thought Yashasvi would open, but now I don’t feel that. Shubman Gill is the vice-captain, so he will play. Yashasvi won’t bat at three or four because Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will occupy those spots. Then how will Yashasvi play?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India squad for ICC Champions Trophy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n