Sanju Samson May Miss Out on Champions Trophy Spot After Decision to Skip Vijay Hazare Trophy - Report

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Often finding himself unlucky in terms of Team India selection, Sanju Samson is set to pay again ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, but this time for his own negligence of not playing for Kerala in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Samson was not included in the Kerala team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy after skipping a preparatory camp. While he is part of the Indian T20I team to face England next week, Samson is in danger of not being considered for the subsequent ODI series and the Champions Trophy.

According to a report in Times of India, the wicketkeeper-batter missing the Vijay Hazare Trophy, amidst BCCI's mandate for players to participate in domestic matches, is set to be probed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) decided to not include the wicektkeeper after he had made himself unavailable for a preparatory camp ahead of the tournament. KCA also said they didn't want a youngster to miss out due to uncertainity over Samson's availability.

As per the TOI report, BCCI sources have said Samson's no-show in Vijay Hazare Trophy needs to be discussed before the Champions Trophy squad is picked on January 19.

"The selectors and the board have been very clear on the importance of domestic cricket. Last year, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer lost central contracts for missing domestic matches without seeking permission. Even in Samson's case, the board and selectors were not given any reason why he missed the tournament. All that is known so far is that he spends much of his time in Dubai," TOI quoted a BCCI source.

"The selectors would want a valid reason. Otherwise, it will be difficult to consider him for the ODI season. Samson has had a bitter history with the KCA, but that needs to be sorted out for him to play in domestic cricket. It can't be that the state association and him have a misunderstanding, and he misses out on game time. He did play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy preceding the Vijay Hazare Trophy," the source said.

Samson is in the T20I side, but faces stiff competition for a spot in the ODI side with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant being slated as the two wicketkeepers that will fly to Dubai for the Champions Trophy.