NEW DELHI: Saint SamsonChildhood coach Biju George has strongly criticized the selectors after the star wicketkeeper-batter was left out of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The decision came as a surprise as Samson had played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The right-hander was named the Player of the Tournament after scoring 97 not out, 89 and 89 in India’s last three matches.George said he was heartbroken by the decision and felt Samson deserved a longer run after helping India win the World Cup.“I agree that he failed in three games. But he was not the only one who failed. Right? I feel really sad. I am totally broken because I think that, at least for the next year, you gave him five or six games, three tours, three continuous tours. Give him a slot. Sad.” George told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“With this talent, there is no question about his caliber. There is no doubt that he was your match-winner. He won the World Cup. Now, how can you do this to him? It’s like some things you can never understand – why it happens. Right? Very sad. So defend,” he said.Samson also had an end IPL season, scoring two centuries – the most by a batter in the tournament.However, scores of 5, 0 and 1 in the tours of Ireland and England saw him lose his place to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. While Samson remains with the Indian team in England, where India trail the series 2-0, he has been left out of the Zimbabwe T20Is.His omission has raised more questions as Samson is still part of India’s strength squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan later this year.With Samson unavailable, the Zimbabwe series is expected to give Sooryavanshi more opportunities. India also recalled Rinku Singh and gave the first call to Prabhsimran Singh.Reacting to suggestions that Samson could have been rested to give the youngsters an opportunity, George wondered when the keeper-batsman would get another chance to stake his claim.“Can he be rested just to give opportunities to young players?“Where does he have the opportunity to prove himself before this? When is the next tour after Zimbabwe? What is the timetable? What is the next tour? I think it is very, very far away. I think Sri Lanka, maybe. So will they change the team pending that? I do not know. Yes.“He’ll probably come back and work, which he certainly will. But that’s beside the point.”George said Samson has been treated unfairly since his junior cricket days and believes the latest omission is part of a long-standing pattern.“See, why do people see players differently? When Sanju Samson comes in, everything goes wrong for him. When XYZ comes in, it’s treated with kid gloves,” George said.“This happened to Sanju right from the Under-19 stage. Even when he was scoring runs, he was not selected for the Under-19 side. Instead, Unmukt Chand was selected. Then, out of nowhere, Vijay Zol became captain. Sanju was ignored. Later, Sanju became vice-captain,” he said.
“Leave Surya, ridiculous Samson”
George said Samson’s performances in the T20 World Cup should have earned him a longer run in the side.He also came out in support Suryakumar Yadavwho captained India to the T20 World Cup title but was dropped as captain and from the team.“Actually, if you look at it, Sanju would not have played those three consecutive brilliant innings, neither the selector would have retained his job, nor the chief selector. The whole team would have been sacked.“Now, the guy, the captain who won you the World Cup, the player who was the Man of the Tournament, has been left out, which is ridiculous. And there are some players – without naming anyone – who enter and immediately in the playing XI. There are some players who are given so much leeway. Why not the same for this person”.
“Recurring Module”
George said Samson has repeatedly found himself struggling for his place despite producing winning performances at every opportunity.“This is not the first time that has happened to Sanju. This is a recurring pattern with him. He gets injured, then he leaves after the World Cup, then he scores runs and he falls again. It’s like, for him, it’s always a combination where he has to perform in every match or every other match. to keep it so consistent. Right? ” said a distressed George.“So, let’s see. I pray that he takes a lot of positive, comes back, gives his best, and again proves these people wrong,” he signed.
