The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the squads for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) and T20 series against Australia. This announcement sees the much-awaited return of cricketing stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who last donned India’s colors during the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Young batting sensation Shubman Gill has been entrusted with the captaincy of the ODI squad, with Shreyas Iyer named as his vice-captain, forming a dynamic leadership duo for the series.
A significant talking point from the ODI squad selection is the surprising inclusion of Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper, partnering with KL Rahul. Jurel, who delivered a stellar century against the West Indies in his debut Test match, is yet to play an ODI for India. With the seasoned Rishabh Pant currently recovering from injury, many anticipated Sanju Samson, known for his aggressive batting and wicketkeeping skills, to secure the backup spot. However, the selection committee, headed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, opted for Jurel, indicating a focus on nurturing new talent.
India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India’s T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
While left out of the ODI lineup, Sanju Samson has successfully retained his position in the T20 International squad. His recent performances in the Asia Cup saw him bat effectively in the middle order, stepping up when Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings. Samson proved his mettle by forging a crucial 50-run partnership with Tilak Varma in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, after India faced an early collapse at 20 for 3. He concluded the tournament as India’s third-highest scorer, amassing 132 runs at an average of 33.
Samson’s ODI statistics paint a strong picture, with 510 runs from 16 matches at an impressive average of 56.7, including three half-centuries and one century. His most recent ODI century was scored against South Africa, marking his last appearance in the 50-over format. Despite these commendable numbers, the selectors’ decision to hand Dhruv Jurel an opportunity underscores the intense competition and impressive depth currently present in India’s white-ball cricket pool.