Overview:
Rishabh Pant’s aggressive style and unpredictability make him a potential match-winner, but his ODI record shows a lack of consistency. On the other hand, Sanju Samson has proven that he possesses the qualities India needs in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.
On Sunday, November 23, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) announced the squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. The 15-player lineup has a task to beat the Proteas starting November 30 in Ranchi for the first match of the three-game series.
With Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer injured, the selectors made a few changes. Dhruv Jurel has been retained, and Rishabh Pant returned after recovering from a foot injury. However, Sanju Samson remains sidelined despite a match-winning century in South Africa and impressive stats (56.67 avg, 99.61 SR) in the fifty over format. Here are the three reason why Samson should have been preferred over Pant.
Rishabh Pant’s failure to match Sanju Samson’s success in white-ball cricket
Rishabh Pant lags behind Sanju Samson in white-ball formats. His last competitive white-ball appearance was in the 2025 IPL, a forgettable season, and his only ODI in nearly three years came in August 2024. Despite limited success in the IPL, Pant has struggled for consistency in white-ball cricket. This led to his exclusion from the T20 squad post-World Cup, but he remains part of the ODI setup.
Sanju Samson plays white-ball cricket consistently for India and Kerala. He also features in the IPL and the Kerala Premier League. The right-handed batter is in great form and can bat both at the top and in the middle order. It’s puzzling to overlook an in-form player like Samson in favour of Pant based on the latter’s red-ball stats and potential.
Samson was left out of the Australian tour because selectors don’t see him as a middle-order option, despite that being his regular role in ODIs. He also played in the same position during recent T20Is, including the Asia Cup and Australia series.
Samson could’ve used the South Africa ODI series to prepare for the T20I season
Sanju Samson has been struggling to secure a consistent spot in the Indian T20I batting lineup, despite his efforts. He was removed from his preferred opening position, where he had achieved impressive numbers, and asked to perform in a completely unfamiliar role, which disrupted his rhythm.
Facing tough competition from Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson could have benefited from more middle-order opportunities in the South Africa ODIs to improve his chances of staying in the squad. With Samson now missing from the ODI team, it’s harder for him to compete with Jitesh Sharma, who is in excellent form. While the formats differ, Samson could have gained confidence from competing directly with Jitesh, who continues to shine in the India ‘A’ setup.
India need a proper batter to replace Shreyas Iyer
The discussion around including a second wicket-keeper in the playing XI has emerged due to the absence of Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, two key players who have been crucial to India’s middle-order stability. Their unavailability has left a significant gap in the lineup.
With KL Rahul set to anchor the middle-order and lead in the absence of Shubman Gill, there’s an opportunity to bring in another batter to strengthen the unit. India need someone with the same qualities as Iyer, a player who understands the pace of ODI cricket, handles spin well, and can adapt to different conditions. Rishabh Pant, however, does not fit this role.
Rishabh Pant’s aggressive style and unpredictability make him a potential match-winner, but his ODI record shows a lack of consistency. On the other hand, Sanju Samson has proven that he possesses the qualities India needs in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. It’s unfair to overlook a player of his quality.