Sanju Samson's Exclusion Sparks Controversy

The selection of India's squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 has raised eyebrows, with former cricketer Harbhajan Singh questioning the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from the team. Singh feels that Samson's batting style is suitable for the format and his exclusion is unjust, despite having a decent batting average.

Sanju Samson, a skilled batsman with a 56.67 average, has been excluded from India's 15-man squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, sparking controversy. Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed surprise at the decision, stating he "feels bad" for Samson. Samson's exclusion has been seen as a surprise, given his impressive batting record and his potential to perform well in the Champions Trophy.

Yuzvendra Chahal has not played for India in any format since mid-2023. He has been excluded from the Indian team, despite having impressive numbers: 121 wickets in 80 T20Is (25.09 average, 8.19 economy) and 72 ODIs (27.13 average, 5.26 economy). Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra questioned Chahal's exclusion, calling it unfair. Chahal's performance in the 2022 season in ODIs was excellent, but he was consistently omitted.

India is set to compete in Group A of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, with their first match against Bangladesh on February 20. The team's selection has sparked debate, with many feeling that Samson and Chahal could have brought valuable experience and skill to the squad. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on India's performance and whether their selection decisions will pay off.