Sanju Samson Finds Support from Captain Suryakumar Yadav Amid Kerala Cricket Controversy

Amid ongoing tensions with his home state following his absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy and exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad, Kerala wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has received support from his T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav.Despite his impressive performances in India’s last five T20I matches, Samson has come under scrutiny, particularly after being dropped from Kerala’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) was reportedly displeased when the senior player skipped a preparatory camp, which was later declared mandatory. Although the KCA later retracted its stance on the camp’s necessity for selection, questions arose regarding Samson’s commitment, especially at a time when the BCCI is enforcing stricter rules for international players to participate in domestic cricket.

Last week, KCA president Jayesh George criticized Samson, stating that he “cannot turn up for Kerala whenever he feels like.” With this controversy surrounding him, the upcoming five-match T20I series against England holds significant importance for the 30-year-old.

However, Samson can find some relief in the backing of his captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who confirmed that he would continue as the wicketkeeper and open the batting alongside left-hander Abhishek Sharma. Following India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, Samson had a breakout season, scoring three T20I centuries in five innings against Bangladesh and South Africa. This made him the first-ever batter to achieve the feat in a calendar year while also finishing as India’s leading run-scorer for the season.

“As of now, there’s no question mark over the wicketkeeper,” Suryakumar stated on the eve of India’s first T20I against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. “Sanju has performed exceptionally well in the last seven or eight games, proving what he is capable of,” he added.

Samson had captained Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in early December 2024 before opting for a break. He later expressed his availability for the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, but Kerala refused to include him in the squad. Eventually, Kerala was eliminated from the tournament in the group stage.